Samsung

Electronics
Assessment of labor and human right from ILO perspective
 Group members
S3640243 - Kim Hyun
S3651490 - Kim Jong Min
S3532894 - Nguyen Truong Thinh
S3595020 - Le Thuy Vy
S3595032 - Hoang Le Bao Han
S3533534 - Pham Thanh Thao
S3651032 - Nguyen Pham Minh Tuyen
 Outline
1. Organization and company overview
2. Importance of the issue
3. Context of company
4. Key findings of the issue
5. Recommendations
 With the representative from Government,
employers and employees
● 29 October, 1919

● Headquarters : Geneva, Switzerland

● The organization holds debate openly to

create international labour standards as
well as set social protection and job
opportunities.
 Overview of Company
● 1923: SamSung Mobile Division.
● 2nd largest mobile manufacturer
● 1996: Samsung internationalized their business
into Vietnam.
● 1997: conducted their first official investment
with an investment capital of 650 million USD.
● With non-stop expansion, Samsung is now a
home of around 100,000 Vietnamese labour.
Why is the issue important?

● The main problem: Labour abuse

● Negative impact on lives & rights of workers
● Victim: Vietnamese labour
● Consequences: Health problems ( Fatigue,
Dizziness,...)
Samsung Electronics CSR in Labor &
Human Rights
● Comply with regulation
● Respect freedom and human
right
● Strict management standard
● Anti-discrimination policy
Award for Outstanding Company for
Employees
● Enterprises for Labor-ers 2017
● VGCL (Vietnam General
Confederation of Labor)
● Supporting women’s empowerment
● 75% Female workers
● Mommy Room
● Self-esteem & independence
Capability & Confidence
United Nations Sustainable Development
Goals
● Standard of SDG
● Gender Equity
● Decent work and economic
growth
● Peace and justice strong
institution
● Evaluated as High
Relevance
Report of IPEN & CGFED

● Tam(19) died in 2016

● Interview 45 female workers
● Health and Safety Concerns
- Shift work
- Long standing work
- High level of noise
- Miscarriage
- Radiation and chemical exposure
- Not enough breaks
Report of IPEN & CGFED
● Samsung denied all & Took legal
action to report
● Suspicion
- Threatened whistle-blower (45
interviewees)
● Just caution from Vietnamese
government
● Doubt
- Contacts between Samsung & VN
government
 Recommendations
For the company

❖ Take responsibility and action

● Admit instead of denying the case to take the

responsibility.

● Instant response to ease the public to

prevent further rumors.

● A press conference (if necessary) will help

the company to show their concerns to the
problem.

● Promise to avoid the same issue in public can

help to regain the reputation.
 Recommendations
For the company
❖ Further management

● Unprofessional international management →

develop more effective strategies.

● Coordinate with ILO Vietnam → ensure the firm

is doing appropriate ethical business.

● Improve working condition and worker’s well-

beings → increase employee’s overall
satisfactions → maintain labour productivity
and product quality.
Recommendations
For the organization

1. With the workers

● Creating more workshops in companies to educate the workers about their rights and how to
recognize the signal of being abused.
● Guiding them to report cases which they assert that their rights are attacked.

1. With the companies

Due to to Global Value Chain strategy that many companies apply and how they plan to use cheap
labour, our organization have to seriously keep track on their activities.
● Have a deep connection with human resources of this companies in order to not miss any related
cases about labor rights.
● Keep track on their annual report as well as their activities so as to recognize soon any serious
case.
Recommendations
For the organization

3. With Government

In order to protect labours

● Support Government in creating policies for

protecting the workers from being abused in
workplaces.

● Cooperate with them in order to solve

problems related to labours rights.
 The Most Appropriate Option
For Company
Plan For Further Management

- Admit the case

- Easing the public Short-term
- Open press conference

- Develop better strategies

- Coordinate with ILO Vietnam Long-term
- Improve working condition
 Risk of Further
Management

Spend more time Increase Cost

 References list
International Labour Organization Website (n.d), Available at: https://www.ilo.org/global/lang--en/index.htm [ Accessed: 02 Jan 2019]

IPEN (2017) STORIES OF WOMEN WORKERS IN VIETNAM’S ELECTRONICS INDUSTRY, IPEN, Available
at:https://ipen.org/sites/default/files/documents/FINAL_Stories%20of%20Women%20Workers%20in%20Vietnam%27s%20Electronics%20Industry%20FINAL%20Nov%
202017.pdf [Accessed: 01 Jan 2019]

Samsung Co Ltd. (2018) Sustainability Report 2018. Available at:

https://images.samsung.com/is/content/samsung/p5/global/ir/docs/SustainabilityReport2018_en.pdf?fbclid=IwAR3K28JFzytkNSaVmckIVewmffuhPTAfPfNqxfnyH_EBs
xIe84kJcDmGg1k [Accessed: 02 Jan 2019]

Rossi, A, Luinstra A & Pickles, J 2014, 'Towards Better Work: Understanding labor in apparel global value chains (Links to an external site.)Links to an external
site.', Springer.

Samsung website n.d . Available at < www.samsung.com> [Accessed: 01 Jan 2019]