Samsung has been hit with criticism lately regarding the working conditions in factories used by it’s manufacturing partners, and has promised to improve those issues.
In a press release issued on Monday, Samsung responded to reports from China Labor Watch that accused its suppliers of utilizing underage labor. However, Samsung did not find any instances of child labor in a four-week-long audit of 105 suppliers covering 65,000 employees.
Samsung audit did however, find “several instances of inadequate practices at the facilities.” The audit, conducted by 121 trained and certified employees, did find instances of overtime hours that exceeded local regulations, and copies of labor contracts being held by supply chain companies’ management. Samsung will also eliminate fining employees for lateness or absences.
“We are now designing, researching, and/or implementing corrective actions to address every violation that was identified,” Samsung said in a statement. “Corrective actions include new hiring policies and work hours and overtime practices, among other steps, to protect the health and welfare of employees.”
In August, a report by China Labor Watch claimed that the Chinese manufacturer HEG employed workers as young as 14 years old. It also accused the Samsung partner of hiring discrimination, excess overtime, withholding copies of worker contracts, poor cafeteria and dormitory conditions, and lack of safety education and labor protection.
Samsung replied. saying it would review 250 suppliers for alleged labor violations.
Apple has also conducted its own supplier audits and published annual reports detailing the findings for many years. This year however, Apple requested the Fair Labor Association to perform its own third-party audits.
The FLA’s involvement came after Apple faced growing criticism for alleged actions by its manufacturing partners in China, particularly Foxconn.
