Samsung acknowledges report on labor rights abuse

Korean tech giant Samsung Electronics Co. on Wednesday acknowledged criticism on working conditions at its China-based plants, pledging to re-evaluate working conditions there.

A report by New York-based labor rights group China Labor Watch said workers at six Samsung-owned plants and two suppliers in China were forced to work overtime in poor conditions without any channel to express their difficulties.

Workers were pushed to put in more than 100 overtime hours a month and work without sitting down, according to the report.

"We have noted the report and plan to re-evaluate working hour practices at the mentioned plants," said Samsung spokesman James Chung.

Chung said the company, which receives daily reports from its plants, is aware of the working conditions.

"Working hours tend to increase when new lines are set up or when new products are being manufactured. We agree there are problems with the overtime and plan to see if there is room for improvement," he said, adding Samsung stands firm on its no tolerance policy regarding child labor.

The report comes two days after Samsung Electronics, the world's top technology firm by revenue, addressed an earlier probe by China Labor Watch on child labor issues at Samsung's Chinese supplier HEG Electronics Co.

In response to the allegation, Samsung denied the presence of child workers but admitted "several instances of inadequate management and potentially unsafe practices."

The company vowed to conduct inspections on working conditions at 249 Samsung-owned plants and suppliers in China by the end of the year. It also pledged to sever contracts with suppliers that abuse labor rights. (Yonhap)