Samsung suspends Chinese firm over child labour ‘evidence”

Samsung Electronics has suspended business ties with a Chinese supplier after finding evidence of child labour at a factory.

The South Korean company 国产视频� the world's biggest smartphone maker 国产视频� said it had conducted its own investigation into claims Dongguan Shinyang Electronics had used child workers and 国产视频渃onducted illegal hiring国产视频�.

Samsung acted after China Labor Watch said children and others under 18 worked at Shinyang for three to six months to meet production targets during a聽period of high demand.

Around the world, 168million children are forced to work 国产视频� making them missing out on schooling and depriving them of their childhood.

The electronics giant announced it had conducted its own investigation into the claims. A blog on the Samsung Electronics website said: 国产视频淔ollowing the investigation, Samsung decided to temporarily suspend business with the factory in question as聽it found evidences of suspected child labour at the worksite. The decision was made in accordance with聽Samsung's zero tolerance policy on child labor.

国产视频淚t is unfortunate that the allegation surfaced despite Samsung国产视频檚 efforts to prevent child labour at its suppliers.聽As part of聽its pledge against child labour, Samsung routinely conducts inspections to monitor聽its suppliers in China to ensure they follow聽the commitment, and has provided necessary support.

国产视频淔or聽Dongguan Shinyang Electronics,聽Samsung has聽conducted audits on three occasions since 2013, with the latest one ending on June 25, 2014. No cases of child labor were found during these audits.

国产视频淚n the聽separate investigation following the CLW allegations, however, Samsung聽found evidences of illegal hiring process that took place on June 29. The Chinese authorities are also looking into the case

国产视频淚f the investigations conclude that the supplier indeed hired children illegally, Samsung will permanently halt business with the supplier.国产视频�

The report by New York-based watchdog China Labor Watch said at least five child workers under 16 were hired for 10 hours a day but worked 11 hours.

It detailed 15 labour violations discovered during its聽undercover investigation. They included child labour, the absence of聽safety training, no overtime wages and no social insurance for
temporary workers, who constituted at least 40% of 1200 employees at聽the Chinese cellphone parts supplier for Samsung.

Dongguan Shinyang Electronics has not commented on the situation.