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Samsung Vietnam accused of mistreating workers
  • | dtinews.vn | November 23, 2017 08:40 PM
Sweden's International POPs Elimination Network (IPEN)'s latest report claims that Samsung Vietnam is mistreating workers.

  

Samsung Vietnam is accused of mistreating workers by Sweden's International POPs Elimination Network


IPEN and Vietnam's Research Centre for Gender, Family and Environment in Development (CGFED) interviewed 45 Samsung employees and concluded that the workers lacked proper labour contracts and were overworked.

Miscarriages were very frequent because workers have to work from eight to 12 hours a day and have to stand on their feet to work even during early pregnancy. The workers face salary cuts if they take breaks. Half of the interviewed employees have small children but they have to live far away to work. They also have many health problems relating to eyesight, gastrointestinal disorders and leg pains.

"The breaks are too short and the workers have to ask for special permission to go to the toilets. There's also a need to investigate chemical leaks. They are exposed to many chemicals but aren't aware of the risks," CGFED and IPEN wrote in the report.

However, Samsung Vietnam said IPEN conducted the research without visiting the factories, and that all workers had labour contracts. It also denied accusations that workers need special permission to go to the toilets.

Representatives of Samsung Vietnam said that their workers were given health checks once a year. The company claimed it protected pregnant women and those with small children in accordance with the law and said there were no salary reductions because of pregnancy.

Samsung Vietnam has a different workflow for registered pregnant women. They can sit down to work and have two special meals per week. They can go to the clinic for health check-ups and rest anytime.

Concerning the chemical exposure, Samsung Vietnam said that the workers were given protective suits and they had equipment to clean the environment. In December 2016 and June 2017, Joint Audit Co-operation and the Electronic Industry Citizenship Coalition audited the factories and local authorities also carry out regular inspections but nothing was reported.

The Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs said they would work with the International Labour Organisation to investigate the claims due to their severity.

IPEN is a global network of hundreds of public interest non-governmental organisations from all over the world focus on chemical issues relating to human health and environmental sustainability. The participating organisations have expertise in various fields such as public health, toxicology, agriculture, waste management, legislation, clean production, consumer issues, and workers’ rights.

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