Supplier for Samsung and Lenovo Accused of Using Child Labor

By REUTERS August 28, 2014

China Labor Watch said it had found more than 10 children working at the factory of a China-based supplier for the technology giants Samsung Electronics and the Lenovo Group during an investigation in July and August. The group, based in New York, also said its investigation had found over 100 student workers who were not being paid overtime wages or a subsidy for working at night.

The supplier, HEG Technology, denied the allegations, and Samsung said it had found no children or students working on the Samsung production line at the factory, in Huizhou. A Lenovo spokeswoman said the company would look into the report.

In a statement, China Labor Watch said it had shared evidence with Samsung last week and that Samsung demanded that the supplier pay some students' wages. But it did not say whether Samsung took any action on the matter of child labor or whether it had reached out to Lenovo with the information.

In response, Samsung said it had proposed to China Labor Watch that they conduct a joint investigation "for more precise verification" of the allegations. Samsung also said it had informed the watchdog about its own investigation, adding: "We find it regrettable that CLW issued the allegations today without any mention of our statement."

HEG Technology said the company had never hired children, and that it had facial recognition systems in place to ensure workers were not underage.

This is the second time in as many months that China Labor Watch has said it found children working at Samsung's Chinese suppliers. Samsung halted business with one supplier and later reinstated it, but with a 30 percent reduction in orders.

Other multinational companies, including in industries like textiles and toys, have been plagued by revelations of underage workers in their supply chains. Child workers have been discovered at Foxconn, the supplier for some of the world's biggest tech brands, including Apple. Foxconn is the trading name of Taiwan's Hon Hai Precision Industry.

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