Samsung faces fresh child labor claim in China

visitor passes by the entrance way to Samsung Electronics Co.'s showroom at its headquarters in Seoul, South Korea. A file photo.

Samsung is facing a fresh accusation that one of its China suppliers hired children to meet production targets during a period of high demand.

Samsung Electronics Co. said on Thursday that it is looking into the allegation by China Labour Watch that its supplier Shinyang Electronics in Dongguan hired children and underage student workers.

The New York-based labour watchdog said children were hired during a busy production period, worked for 11 hours a day without overtime pay and without social insurance.

The accusation conflicts with Samsung’s recent report on conditions at suppliers. It said no child labour was found by an external audit of about 100 Chinese suppliers.

That audit found 59 suppliers that did not provide safety equipment to employees. It said excessive working hours were commonplace.