60% of electronics firms violate overtime laws
>> Ministry inspects Samsung Vietnam over worker mistreatment
All electronics firms in Vietnam are organising extra shifts and 60 percent are violating overtime work laws, according to figures announced by head of the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs' Inspection team, Nguyen Tien Tung at a Wednesday seminar held in Hanoi.
"132 firms were found to have violated labour laws as their contracts do not properly state the rights and responsibilities of employers and employees," the inspector added. "All firms have overtime workers while 132 firms have workers do extra hours that exceeded the maximum set by local law."
Speaking about the causes of the violations, Tung said that both employers and employees were not fully aware of their obligations and rights.
Last November, Sweden's International POPs Elimination Network and Vietnam's Research Centre for Gender, Family and Environment in Development released a study in which they interviewed 45 female workers at Samsung Electronics Company in Vietnam, concluding that the workers lacked proper labour contracts and were overworked.
"None of the 45 interviewed workers received a copy of their work contracts. All the women said that their work contracts are kept by the company and that they were not given a copy," the study said.
The study also showed that miscarriages were frequent occurrences among Samsung workers because they are overworked while standing and will have their salary cut if they take a break.
An inspection team from the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs then investigated the study and found that both Samsung's factories in Thai Nguyen and Bac Ninh provinces abused working hours regulations. There are two shifts from 8 am to 8 pm, and then from 8 pm to 8 am. Workers have two days off after working for four consecutive days. Workers normally work 70 hours a week. Meanwhile, the Labour Law 2012 stated that the maximum working time is eight hours a day, 48 hours a week and the night shift working time is from 10 pm to 6 am. Extra shift working time must not exceed 30 hours a month.
Head of the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs' Inspection team, Nguyen Tien Tung, speaks at the seminar held on January 31 in Hanoi
"132 firms were found to have violated labour laws as their contracts do not properly state the rights and responsibilities of employers and employees," the inspector added. "All firms have overtime workers while 132 firms have workers do extra hours that exceeded the maximum set by local law."
Speaking about the causes of the violations, Tung said that both employers and employees were not fully aware of their obligations and rights.
Last November, Sweden's International POPs Elimination Network and Vietnam's Research Centre for Gender, Family and Environment in Development released a study in which they interviewed 45 female workers at Samsung Electronics Company in Vietnam, concluding that the workers lacked proper labour contracts and were overworked.
"None of the 45 interviewed workers received a copy of their work contracts. All the women said that their work contracts are kept by the company and that they were not given a copy," the study said.
The study also showed that miscarriages were frequent occurrences among Samsung workers because they are overworked while standing and will have their salary cut if they take a break.
An inspection team from the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs then investigated the study and found that both Samsung's factories in Thai Nguyen and Bac Ninh provinces abused working hours regulations. There are two shifts from 8 am to 8 pm, and then from 8 pm to 8 am. Workers have two days off after working for four consecutive days. Workers normally work 70 hours a week. Meanwhile, the Labour Law 2012 stated that the maximum working time is eight hours a day, 48 hours a week and the night shift working time is from 10 pm to 6 am. Extra shift working time must not exceed 30 hours a month.
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