Child labor, Samsung freezes relations with a Chinese factory
Seoul (AsiaNews) - The headquarters of computer giant Samsung today announced that it has "temporarily suspended" trade relations with one of its suppliers in China. The decision arrived after "evidence of a possible use of child labor in the factory in question" was discovered. The South Korean giant has opened an investigation against the Dongguan Shinyang Electronics after China Labour Watch, an organization that monitors the rights of workers in China, revealed that children under the age of 16 were being used as laborers.
The headquarters in Seoul, added that the Chinese authorities are looking into the case, and pointed out that if it was proved the factory hired children illegally the business suspension would become permanent. In an official statement, Samsung stressed that it maintained a "zero-tolerance" policy on child labour and conducted regular inspections of its suppliers to ensure its implementation."
According to analysts and experts, this decision, however, could be just a facade. The
enormous mobile phone and smart technology
market is hotly contested by both Samsung and Apple who are battling over patents and accuse each
other for violations of international norms on conduct.
China has also waded into the arena with hopes of being able to
replace the Korean and American giants with China's
Huawei products.
This has led Beijing to accuse Apple of using the iPhone traceability system of "endangering
national security through control
of sensitive information." This
morning, in a statement posted in English and Chinese, the American
company responded by "thanking" the Chinese national television - which broadcast the
charges- because the American giant says it helps to "educate customers on a
topic we think is very important. We want to make sure all of our customers in
China are clear about what we do and we don't do when it comes to privacy and
your personal data".
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