Two French rights associations, Sherpa and ActionAid France, have documented a claim against electronics giant Samsung, blaming the company for misleading advertising due to charges that involve human rights infringement at industrial facilities in China and South Korea. It is the most recent labor challenge to Samsung, which has confronted developing complaints over health issues from specialists as of late, even as profits take off on account of its blockbuster semiconductor business.
A portion of the asserted infringement claims suggest the exploitation of minors under 16, extreme working hours, and the utilization of specific chemicals that have prompted serious illnesses for a few employees. Samsung isn’t blamed for human rights infringement, in any case, they are accused of not assuring laborers’ rights.
“Everything we do is guided by a moral compass that ensures fairness, respect for all stakeholders, and complete transparency,” Samsung says on its website. It maintains its stance on providing “a world-class environment, safety and health infrastructure, and rigorous standards to safeguard our employees’ well-being. The cleanliness of the air within our facilities is equivalent to, or better than, that we breathe in our general surroundings.” It also says that it, “monitors all risks associated with work environments at all suppliers … on a real-time basis.”
The claim is a piece of larger endeavors by human rights group to utilize French courts to consider multinationals answerable for affirmed wrongdoing, and to push for a worldwide bargain against corporate misuse. The gatherings contend that French consumers were among those deceived by Samsung’s promises of moral treatment of laborers, and hence French courts can govern for such a situation. In any case, they need to point out the issue past French borders.
“The gap between these ethical commitments and the reality in factories as described by the NGOs is unacceptable and should be sanctioned,” Sherpa and ActionAid France said in a press release Thursday. “We hope to make things evolve not only in France but on an international level,” said Marie-Laure Guislain, legal director for Sherpa. “It’s not just about Samsung,” she told The Associated Press. “It’s the rights of workers under question.”
