Samsung has vowed to investigate accusations that it is using child labor at its Chinese factories.

The South Korean tech giant was accused by the watchdog group China Labor Watch of employing workers who are as young as 14 in facilities in China.

After the initial buzz generated by such a report, Samsung said that it will investigate the claims against HEG Electronics which is used by Samsung as a manufacturing partner.

However, the industry heavyweight stressed that the facility China Labor Watch says is the site of child labor abuse was inspected in the past and passed all requirements.

Samsung said in a statement:

“Samsung Electronics has conducted two separate on-site inspections on HEG’s working conditions this year but found no irregularities on those occasions. A team of inspectors consisting of Samsung personnel from Korea headquarters will be dispatched to Huizhou, China on August 9, and it will immediately launch an investigation and take appropriate measures to correct any problems that may surface. Samsung Electronics is a company held to the highest standards of working conditions and we try to maintain that at our facilities and the facilities of partner companies around the world.”

China Labor Watch was also previously in the news for accusing Samsung rival Apple of using child labor at Foxconn factories in China.

Image from Kelly Short6 on Flickr (CC)

About Solon Harmony Dolor

A passion for technology and journalism makes this upcoming writer very interested in social media and technology news. Fresh from finishing an English and Journalism degree from the University of the Philippines Diliman, he aims to bring interesting news to our readers .