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Samsung and Panasonic Accused Over Supply Chain Labour Abuses in Malaysia (theguardian.com)
Samsung and Panasonic, two of the world's leading electronics brands, are facing allegations that workers in their supply chains are being duped, exploited and underpaid in Malaysia. From a report on The Guardian: The two companies have launched investigations into allegations of abuse made by Nepalese workers after a Guardian investigation raised multiple concerns about their treatment. The men said they had been deceived about pay, had their passports confiscated and had been told that they must pay large fines if they wanted to return to Nepal before the end of their contract. They also claimed they were forced to work for up to 14 hours on their feet without adequate rest, and with restricted toilet breaks, in an attempt to settle recruitment fees of up to pound 1,000 -- they said they had to pay this money to secure their jobs. They said they felt "cheated" and trapped in their factory jobs making or assembling components for household electrical goods sold on the global market. "My heart is aching," said one young man who works in a factory making Samsung microwaves. "I was not given the job I was promised. I am doing very difficult work. I haven't got the salary they said I would get."
Samsung and Panasonic, two of the world's leading electronics brands, are facing allegations that workers in their supply chains are being duped, exploited and underpaid in Malaysia.
This is the *ONLY* reason you build a factory in Malaysia.
it's not on Samsung or Panasonic, but the supplier who hires the workers.
Samsung and Panasonic should be auditing their supply chains, including inspection of supplier factories. That is basic corporate ethics, and is a necessity in our modern interconnected world. That being said, we shouldn't jump to any conclusions: Many accusations like this in the past have turned out to be fabricated.
I'm genuinely disappointed.
I've seen numerous internet articles showing the wide array and quality of Samsung campuses in South Korea, and I've always told my friends and coworkers to buy Samsung, because you're buying Korean, and you're voting for a company with a good track record of clean production facilities and high wages for workers.
I guess Samsung is just as bad as Apple. Or Nike. Or that company that built the Burj Khalifa. I wonder who built it...
Wikipedia.org...Burj Khalifa...
Oh, wait...
Well, that just ruined my day.
You are in a foreign country with no passport and no proof of your right to be there. You do not speak the language. Many of your co-slaves and you have similar language barriers. Raise a ruckus, go to 3rd world hellhole jail. No money for bribes, illegal worker, etc. Now, if you manage to get out, you have more obligations and fines. That is if the armed security force at the factory does not break a few of your ribs first.
Silence is a state of mime.