Watchdog group says Samsung manufacturer using child labor

New York based China Labor Watch accused a contract manufacturer for Samsung, HEG Electronics Company of employing children under the age of 16 years old at their Huizhou manufacturing plant. HEG makes mobile phones and DVD players for Samsung.

In their report, China Labor Watch says that through undercover investigations, it found seven children working in the factory. Not only were they working the same long hours as adults, but the kids were only being paid 70% as much as their adult counterparts. 16 is China’s minimum legal working age.

Chinese authorities claim that they have not uncovered any labor law violations. The city of Huizhou says it conducted its own investigation after receiving the report from China Labor Watch and found that two of the seven named individuals were adults and that the other five were between the ages of 16 and 18.

Samsung is sending their own team to inspect the HEG facility, stating that they have not seen any indications of illegal activities in two previous inspections earlier this year.

sources: Bloomberg, China.org.cn