Last week, Samsung was accused of using child labor, in direct contrast with statements made in their 2014 Sustainability Report.
Today, Samsung acknowledged that child labor was, indeed, used by at least one of its contractors:
Samsung Electronics said on Monday that it had temporarily suspended business with a supplier factory in southern China after allegations surfaced last week indicating the facility had illegally hired under-age workers to produce cellphone components.
The South Korean electronics giant said its own preliminary investigation found “evidence of suspected child labor” at Dongguan Shinyang Electronics, a South Korean-owned factory based in the city of Dongguan, one of the biggest manufacturing centers in China.
In a news release, Samsung said that the authorities in China were investigating the case, and that if the under-age workers had been hired illegally, the factory could be permanently barred from working with Samsung.
Samsung’s response:
“It is unfortunate that the allegation surfaced despite Samsung’s efforts to prevent child labor at its suppliers,” Samsung said in its statement.
Their note seems to say they are sad that the allegations surfaced, not that there was child labor in the first place.
Samsung ethic in a nutshell, I would say
These guys are playing in the Majors now and crap like this should never happen, especially at their level. They serve at the privilege of their consumers. Time for Samsung to grow up and act like the industry leader they are, not immature, reckless, pop stars.
Can you tell me why we attack Samsung for what their contractors do behind their back, and we can’t attack Apple for what their contractors do behind their back?
Because Apple actually makes a visible effort to police its suppliers, and not just in a reactionary way. I’d like to see Samsung’s supplier breakdown that is in any way similar to Apple’s Supplier Responsibility page: https://www.apple.com/supplier-responsibility/
“I’m shocked—shocked—to learn there is gambling going on in this establishment.”
“Your winnings, sir.”
“Oh, thank you. Thank you very much.”
Apple has had similar labor problems with its contractors, Samsung’s on the clock now and will need to react heavily like Apple did in an ongoing basis.
Now, yes but not until they started getting bad pub.
are you f-serious? in what world was apple NOT attacked for anything & everything related to their contractor? christ, even NPR had a This American Life (w/ Ira Glass) episode dedicated to the traveling one-man-play concerning child laborers working on apple’s behalf.
where’s the play about Samsung? where’s NPR coverage? nowhere, and nowhere.
(mind you — the charges in the play turned out to be bogus, the performer completely made them up. but still, it earned national coverage.)