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China Labor Watch's report on Samsung factories in China | Overtime | Samsung
Description: China Labor Watch's report on its investigation of Samsung factories and suppliers in China.
An Investigation of Samsung’s Factories in China: Is Samsung Infringing Upon Apple’s Patent on Bullying Workers?
August 30, 2012 China Labor Watch
I.Introduction……………………………………………………….. II.16 major sets of labor mistreatment………………………………. III.Supplier factories are the worst violators………………………… IV.Samsung can and must improve labor conditions…………….. Shenzhen Samsung Kejian Mobile Telecommunication……….. Huizhou Samsung Electronics………………………………….. Tianjin Samsung Electronics…………………………………….. Tianjin Samsung Mobile Display………………………………… Shandong Samsung Digital Printer……………………………… Suzhou Samsung Electronics…………………………………… Tianjin Intops………………………………………………. Tianjin Chaarmtech (Crucial) Electronics……………………
In June 2012, China Labor Watch (CLW) published an investigative report on ten supplier factories for Apple. Soon afterwards, CLW begin carrying out investigations of Samsung’s network of factories. Samsung Electronics, headquartered out of South Korea, is a world leader in electronics manufacturing and sales. In 2011, Samsung enjoyed profits of over $12 billion and was ranked as the 22nd largest corporation in the world by CNN. Naturally, the treatment of this corporation’s manufacturing workers serves as a model for other businesses in the industry. However, new investigations by CLW have revealed that the treatment of Samsung’s Chinese factory workers is far from model. Indeed, the list of legal and inhumane violations is long, including but not limited to well over 100 hours of forced overtime work per month, unpaid work, standing for 11 to 12 hours while working, underage workers, severe age and gender discrimination, abuse of student and labor dispatch workers, a lack of worker safety, and verbal and physical abuse. Moreover, workers lack of any effective internal grievance channel by which to rectify these transgressions. Samsung has a network of 12 factories that it directly owns and operates in China. In addition, it has countless contracted factories which it does not operate but which are part of Samsung's supply chain, including the HEG Electronics factory, which was exposed by CLW on August 12 for child labor abuse. From May to July 2012, CLW conducted an investigation of 8 factories, including 6 directly-operated by Samsung and 2 Samsung supplier factories. Directly-operated factories and supplier factories differ in some important ways. Samsung has majority ownership of its directly-operated factories, these factories only work for Samsung, and all of their processing fees and expenditures are all assumed by Samsung. But supplier factories only manufacture or process products for Samsung. All expenditures are the responsibility of the factory itself, and they gain profit on the price of their produced goods. These 8 factories include:  Shenzhen Samsung Kejian Mobile Telecommunication Technology Co., Ltd (SSKMT), with about 500 workers, is 60% owned by Samsung and primarily produces Samsung’s CDMA cell phones; Huizhou Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd (SEHZ), with about 10000 workers, is 99% owned by Samsung and primarily produces MP3/MP4 players, MINI combined speakers and receivers, and DVD home theaters;
Tianjin Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd (TSEC), with about 2000 workers, is 91% owned by Samsung and primarily produces DVD players and parts for TVs; Tianjin Samsung Mobile Display Co., Ltd (TSMD), with about 3500 workers, is 95% owned by Samsung and primarily produces mobile displays; Samsung Electronics (Shandong) Digital Printing Co., Ltd (SSDP), with about 2000 workers, is 100% owned by Samsung and primarily produces digital printers; Suzhou Samsung Electronics Company Co., Ltd (SSEC), with about 4000 workers, is 88% owned by Samsung and primarily produces refrigerators, washers, air conditioners, compressors, small home appliances, and related parts; Tianjin Intops Co., Ltd (Intops), with about 1200 workers, is a supplier factory for Samsung and primarily manufactures cell phone casings; Tianjin Chaarmtech Electronic Co., Ltd, with about 900 workers, is a supplier factory for Samsung and primarily produces cell phone casings and other parts.
The worker population of each factory above is an estimate based on our investigators’ work. CLW investigators entered these 8 supplier or directly-operated factories either posing as workers or interviewing workers outside of the factories.
II. 16 major sets of labor mistreatment
Our investigations have discovered an array of serious legal violations and labor abuses throughout these 8 factories. Below are some of the gravest issues: 1. Forced and excessive overtime. Every factory except SSKMT maintains overtime for at least half the year that reaches or exceeds 100 hours per month, sometimes with only one day of rest during the entire month. TSMD workers reach up to 186 hours of overtime during the peak season. Only SSKMT's factory never surpassed 100 hours of overtime, but even its 50 hours of overtime surpasses the legal limit of 36 hours. Workers of the TSEC, TSMD, Chaarmtech, and SEHZ factories are forced to work overtime. Even if not forced, workers often have no choice but to work overtime because their base wages are too low to support themselves. 2. Exhausting working conditions. Almost all factories require most workers to work standing for the entirety of their shift, including during regular overtime shifts that last 11 to 12 hours. This is despite the fact that factory technicians have expressed that from a production perspective, in many cases, standing is unnecessary. In addition, the rate of
production during these long shifts is incredibly fast. For example, workers at SSEC must assemble a nearly meter-long panel and install two screws every 9 seconds. And workers on the cell phone assembly production line at Intops have to finish assembling one cell phone casing every 5 seconds. 3. Extensive labor contract violations. Almost every factory failed to uphold workers’ legal rights to a labor contract. These violations range from a blank contract, to not giving workers a copy of the contract, to no contract at all. For instance, many or most workers at TSEC, TSMD, Intops, and Chaarmtech sign absolutely no legitimate contract with the factory. 4. Forced work without pay. TSEC, SSDP, and Intops require workers to come into work up to 20 minutes early every day for meetings without any remuneration for the time. A fourth factory, SSEC, also doesn’t pay workers during some months in the year for overtime past 36 hours, instead giving them extra vacation time. 5. Inhumane treatment of workers. In at least two factories, TSMD and Intops, investigators discovered regular crude treatment of workers, including verbal and physical abuse. 6. Abuse of underage workers. At least 3 factories—TSMD, SEHZ, and SSKMT—have been discovered hiring workers under 18 years of age, requiring them to do the same work as adults without providing extra protection for these children. The SEHZ factory was even reported as having management hire underage workers by changing the name on the young person’s ID card to the name of a past worker in order to create a facade of age legality. 7. Severe discrimination based on age, gender, and individual characteristics unrelated to the job. Every factory but SSDP and SSEC was reported to be restricting the age of new workers to only young workers, the most egregious of which being 16-20 years of age at the SEHZ factory. The factories hire young workers because they are both more cooperative and less able to defend their own rights. Every factory but SSDP and SSKMT refuses to hire either males or females. When females are favored, it is usually because they are considered more cooperative. Only SSEC favors males because the rate of work is so demanding that the factory fears that female workers could not adapt. SEHZ was also reported as refusing to hire any person less than 1.55 meters tall or that has tattoos, dyed hair, or physical disabilities. 8. Abuse of labor dispatch workers. TSEC, TSMD, INTOPS, Chaarmtech, and SSEC hire a large part or all of their workers via labor dispatch companies, generally offering the workers an illegitimate contract or no contract at all. Instead, dispatch workers will sign a contract with the dispatch companies, allowing the factory to shirk much responsibility for these workers' benefits and safety.
9. Abuse of student workers. TSEC, TSMD, SSDP, SEHZ, and SSKMT extensively hire students directly from vocational schools. Many of these students are underage and they often don't receive a legitimate labor contract; instead, the factory signs a contract with the school of which the students never receive a copy. Many, if not most, students are forced to accept this work as part of graduation requirements. Moreover, schools themselves are more than happy to continue providing students as they receive kickbacks from the factory. 10. Charging workers inordinately high fees to be hired. Workers hired via dispatch and employment agencies must pay up to 800 RMB ($125) per person, where the average monthly base wage for workers is less than 1700 RMB ($267). For example, at the TSEC factory, dispatch workers had to shell out 300-700 RMB ($47-110) to be hired, which occupied up to one half of their base monthly salary of 1450 RMB ($228). In addition, Intops, Chaarmtech, and SSEC charge workers up to 100 RMB ($15) for a health check required during the hiring process. 11. Lack of worker safety. Intops and Chaarmtech don’t provide any safety training for workers. In addition, investigators reported safety concerns in the hazardous environments on the factory floors of SSDP, Intops, and SSEC. For instance, those at Intops who come into contact with printing fumes don't receive or wear protective masks. 12. Dependence on overtime. Workers at Intops and Chaarmtech, both supplier factories, receive a monthly base salary of only 1310 RMB ($206), which is the minimum wage in Tianjin. The average monthly wage at these factories is 3200 RMB ($503) and 3300 RMB ($519), respectively, meaning that their monthly base salary is only about one half of their monthly overtimes wages, making these workers dependent on overtime in order to make a living wage. Dependence on overtime work is characteristic of workers at almost every investigated factory. 13. No pay stubs. At SSDP, Chaarmtech, and SSEC, workers are not given pay stubs when wages are issued. At SSDP and SSEC, workers must access company computers to check their wages. 14. Discrimination in benefits based on personal identity. The TSMD factory provides more insurance benefits for workers that are Tianjin residents than non-residents. 15. Unfair and unreasonable rules. Almost every factory had other regulations that were unfair or simply cruel. A few examples: at TSMD and Intops, sick days are recorded as “work absences”, affecting the workers performance grades and wages; at SEHZ and SSKMT, workers are only allowed to leave the probation period and become formal employees during the month of July, arbitrarily punishing workers who are hired in any other month; and at SEHZ and Intops, workers pay hundreds of renminbi in insurance costs without ever receiving insurance cards that would allow them to enjoy the benefits for which they paid.
16. Lack of any effective complaint mechanisms. Even when they suffered unfair treatment, workers at almost factory lacked any effective channel by which to express grievances to management. TSEC and SSEC had a type of suggestion box, but workers didn’t believe that management would seriously consider these complaints. Furthermore, most workers at every factory had heard nothing about a union, and even if there was a union, it did not act as a voice for the workers’ interests. (The individual reports for each factory can be found below.)
III. Supplier factories are the worst violators
All factories in this investigation mistreat labor in one way or another, but generally speaking, those factories directly owned and operated by Samsung are, in some aspects, less egregious violators than the supplier factories that Samsung pays to produce its products. As an example, the chart below compares a factory completely owned by Samsung, SSDP, and a supplier factory, Intops, based on information and estimates collected during our investigations. SSDP Number of workers Base wages Hiring source About 2000 1600 RMB ($251) Intops About 1200 1310 RMB ($206)
About 60% of workers are About 95% of workers are students hired through hired through worker dispatch schools. Students work for up companies and hiring to a year and then are agencies. Workers need to pay required to return to their 100-400 RMB ($15-62) in schools. There are no hiring service fees as well as another or health check fees. 100 RMB ($15) for the prehire health check. There is a male to female ration of 3:2, and investigators turned up no evidence of gender discrimination in hiring. There are both male and More than 80% of workers are female. During hiring interviews, the HR department often chooses not to interview males. Dormitories are only
female dormitories provided. Age discrimination Labor Contracts Investigators reported no age discrimination. The factory, school, and students sign a joint contract; however, student workers expressed that they do not receive a copy.
provided for females. The factory will only hire people between the ages of 18 and 30. The factory requires workers to sign a contract in which specific items are left blank. The workers are also not given a copy. This has led to many workers in the factory not knowing whether or not they are formal employees of the factory. Absolutely no formal training for new workers. Instead, workers just learn from a veteran worker or team leader on the production line the first day. The first day of work is unpaid. Every day, workers are required to enter the workshop 20 minutes early for a meeting but are unpaid for the time.
Work and Safety Training
Before beginning work, workers attend a full week of training in which full wages are provided.
Forced work without pay
Workers must come into the factory ten minutes before clocking in for a meeting but are not paid for the time. When production plans call for a work stoppage, workers get 50% of normal wages, but the law calls for 70% of wages. When production orders are low, workers average about 32 hours of overtime per month. When orders are high, no more than 100 hours. None. Company computers can be used to check wages
During non-peak seasons, workers average around 100 hours of overtime per month. During peak seasons, about 150 hours. Pay stubs are given to workers every month.
details. Working conditions Everyone must stand while working. One worker of two months reported that the speed of production is so fast that she has never had a chance to drink water while working. None reported. Everyone stands while working. The production speed is very fast; workers on the cell phone assembly production line have to finish one cell phone casing every 5 seconds. Workshop managers crudely reprimand workers. Security guards also force workers to accept physical pat downs. Workers responsible for printing do not have masks to protect themselves from the fumes. Moreover, without any safety training, they might not even know the risk these fumes pose to their health. 1) No matter how serious a sickness may be, one must first go to the factory to get written approval for sick leave. If the worker does not get written approval, it is considered a work absence. 2) An absence of one day results in a deduction of three day’s wages. This deduction shouldn’t be more than 290 RMB ($45), but the actual deduction is between 300-680 RMB ($47-106). 3) Workers pay 160 RMB ($25) per month for an insurance card, but some workers have never received a card to use. 4) Workers are not allowed to
There is a lot of dust under the work areas in the workshop. Workers are given masks, but workers don’t believe that it sufficiently protects them.
Unfair or unreasonable rules
wear shoes in the production facility, despite the floor being cold. According to some factory technicians, there is no apparent reason for this rule. Dormitory The dormitories are provided Only female dormitories are for free, but there is a 10 provided, and the workers RMB ($1.5) monthly fee for who live in them must pay a utilities. The dormitories have monthly fee of 70 RMB ($11). entertainment rooms and There are no forms of equipment, including entertainment provided for computers (though half don’t workers to use. work well), a TV room, a ping pong room, and an exercise room. None reported. The majority of workers don’t even know if there is a workers union at the factory. None reported. No union reported.
The above chart clearly demonstrates that although the SSDP factory is still plagued with issues—e.g., excessive overtime, harsh work conditions, a lack of effective grievance channels—the Intops factory can be considered in another league of labor abuse, with over 100 hours of overtime per month throughout the year, gender and age discrimination, illegitimate labor contracts, and a lack of concern for worker safety. Through the network of Samsung’s Chinese factories, those majority owned or directly operated by Samsung occupy a very small percentage of the factories. The majority of those in Samsung’s network are supplier factories, and the conditions at these supplier factories are, on average, worse than those at Samsung’s own factories.
IV. Samsung can and must improve labor conditions
The labor abuse detailed above mustn’t be allowed to persist. As discussed in the beginning of this report, Samsung is among the largest corporations in the world, with over $12 billion dollars in profits in 2011. It clearly has the wherewithal to systematically improve labor conditions for its network of factories and supplier factories in China. Below are some of the steps Samsung can take in both its majority-owned and supplier factories:
Establish worker hotlines in each factory. By establishing this channel of communication between the factory and workers, worker grievances can be clearly expressed and potentially rectified. Of course, workers should be free from factory reprisals and be able to maintain their anonymity if so desired. The factory also benefits from a hotline because the expectations of more workers can be met and employee turnover will reduce. Establish third-party hotlines. Third party actors, such as NGOs, can act as mediators of labor disputes by giving workers a direct channel by which to contact these NGOs and express their grievances. In turn, these NGOs can then communicate the grievances to the factory and discuss potential solutions. Reduce internal audits and increase third party audits. Redundant internal corporate social responsibility (CSR) audits lack independence and are mired in corruption. Samsung should reduce these audits and replace them with regular independent third party audits. NGOs, which have no conflict of interest in working with Samsung, should be able to freely conduct CSR audits in factories, strengthening oversight and improving labor conditions. Educate managers. Management—particularly low-level management on the factory floor—should be provided with communication and human resource management training. Without these essential skills, the verbal and physical abuse in factory workshops will persist. Round-table discussions. Samsung can organize discussion events which bring in representatives for the workers at a given factory, for that factory, for Samsung itself, and for any other corporation that does business with that factory. Roundtable events should allow all sides to hold open discussions on factory rules, labor treatment, and other issues relevant to workers. These events should emphasize equality among the various parties, ensuring that there are an equal (or greater) number of worker representatives as corporate and factory representatives. Worker representatives should be directly chosen by the workers themselves. Production transparency. Samsung should publish a list of all supplier factories as well as put the names of these factories on its products. This way, Samsung's manufacturing operations will be fully transparent. Collective bargaining and unions. Not one factory in this investigation had a legitimate union. Samsung should allow the right to worker-organized, workeroperated, and worker-led unions in all of its directly-owned and supplier factories. Of course, all union leadership and representatives should be chosen by the workers that union represents. And all unions should have to right to collective bargaining.
The long list of abuses discussed in this report demands an immediate effort by Samsung to rectify current illegal and unfair treatment. But in order to prevent transgressions in the future, Samsung should also improve the entire system, as is detailed above. By nature of its size and extensive utilization of Chinese labor, Samsung can change the way that the electronics industry treats manufacturing workers. CLW calls on Samsung to begin at once.
About China Labor Watch: Founded in 2000, China Labor Watch is an independent not-for-profit organization. In the past ten years, CLW has collaborated with labor organizations and the media to conduct a series of in-depth assessments of factories in China that produce toys, bikes, shoes, furniture, clothing, and electronics for some of the largest companies. CLW’s New York office creates reports from these investigations, educates the international community on supply chain labor issues, and pressures corporations to improve conditions for workers.
Investigative report on Shenzhen Samsung Kejian Mobile Telecommunication Technology Co., Ltd.
Shenzhen Samsung Kejian Mobile Telecommunication Technology Co., Ltd. (SSKMT) is a Sino-foreign joint venture, majority owned by Samsung that primarily produces CDMA mobile phones for Samsung. The company is located in the northern section of the Hi-Technology Park, Nanshan District, Shenzhen, Guangdong. There are around 500 employees in the company, 40% of which are female workers.
The company was established in 2002 with $20 million of registered capital. The total investment amounted to $60 million. The shareholders (initiators) are: South Korea’s Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., China Kejian Co., Ltd., and Shanghai Alliance Investment Ltd. Among them, Samsung Electronics invested 60%, Shanghai Alliance 35%, and China Kejian 5%.
The registered address for SSKMT is Samsung Kejian Park, 2 Songpin Street, HiTechnology District North, Nanshan, Shenzhen. It has registered to carry out research and development and produce CDMA mobile phones. It sales its manufactured products and provides customer technical service as well as R & D in 3G terminal products. Kejian also engages in wholesale import/export and other business related to mobile phones and parts. Accordind to its registration, SSKMT can be in business from Febuary 26, 2002 to Febuary 26, 2032.
I. Recruitment and Termination
Workers are required to be between 16 and 20 years old in order to be hired. These young workers are recruited directly through schools— never publicly. The student applicants do not need to pay fees to be recruited. Non-student applicants have to pay the school 5001000 RMB ($78.1-$156.3) to be recruited, but they still must be between 16 and 20 years old. The company will provide free health checks and make copies of the workers’ IDs for record-keeping. Workers are required to take part in a 4 day-3 night training course in Dongguan, where they learn about the history of the company, service concepts, and play some games. There is an assessment at the end of the training to determine if workers meet the company’s requirements. If the employees pass the test, they will be trained for 2 or 3 days in skills realted to their positions, including work procedures and precautions. The training period is paid. Before beginning formal work, anti-static clothing is provided, but it is not allowed outside of the workshops.
New recruits can become full-time employees during the month of July, which is a regulation of the company. If a person is recruited in July, he/she will become an official employee during that month. Official employees can benefits such as housing allowances and
five insurance. Non-official employees who are still in their probation period can leave the company anytime with the permission of management. Employees with contracts must inform the team leader one month before leaving the company, get the permission of their supervisor, and then needs to have a resignation form granted by the company. The date on which the form is completed will be considered the date on which the worker resigns. The company will issue a resignation certificate according to the performance of that employee who can then receive remaining wages.
II. Labor Contract
It is a company regulation that it only signs labor contracts, which are three years, with employees every July. The workers are able to receive copies of these contracts. However,
our investigator reported that some of the workers do not pay attention to the details of the contracts.
The company records employees’ working hours by card swiping. There are four shifts during working hours: regular shift, morning shift, noon shift, and night shift: -Regular shift: 8am-12pm, 1pm-5pm. -Morning shift is 7am-3:30pm; night shift is 9:30pm-6am. These two shifts styles operate in cycles. Workers switch between these shifts every two weeks on a Saturday or Sunday. The company will arrange days off for them to rest and work no overtime. -Noon shift: 7am-3pm, 3pm -11pm, 11pm -7am. This type of shift actually have three shifts that cycle. Workers change shifts every two weeks on a Saturday or Sunday. The company will arrange days off for them to rest and work no overtime. -The meal break is 40 minutes for every shift. Workers take these breaks in groups. There is also a 10-minute break in the morning and afternoon.
According to workers, during the current period, overtime is seldom. The peak season is from October to February, during which period workers might have 40 to 50 hours of overtime per month. During other months, the overtime hours will be around 10 hours per month. In April, most employees only work 5 to 6 hours of overtime.
There were four days off in the Labor Day holiday this year, with one of the days considered adjusted work time, so that the work would have to be made up later.
The supervisor will customize individual production amounts based on each worker’s abilities, and this work load is usually achievable. To work overtime, the workers need to fill out an overtime application form. Those who do not want to work overtime can just inform their supervisor orally.
IV. Remunerations and Benefits
The base salary of workers is determined by their rank.. Currently the average salary is around 2000 RMB ($312.5) per month. The salary is issued on the 21st of every month, and will be issued early if the 21st is a Saturday or Sunday. The workers interviewed told us that the company made it a rule of not disclosing remuneration details. During the interview process, most of the employees were not willing to reveal to us their pay, saying, “It’s confidential. I can’t tell others.”
Example paystub of a worker who had been at the company for over two years Base salary：1550 RMB ($242.2) Fund (P): 308 RMB ($48.1) Competence reward(P): 300 RMB ($46.9) Competence reward (G): 260 RMB ($40.6) Mar- Oct summer heat subsidy: 120 RMB ($18.8) Overtime wages: 246 RMB ($38.4) (11.83 hours in all) Weekend overtime wages: 55.59 RMB ($8.69) (2 hours in all) Overproduction reward: 147.7 RMB ($23.1) Donation to Loving Heart Fund: 5 RMB ($0.78) Basic insurance：2514 RMB ($392.8) Pension (C）: 251.1 RMB ($39.2) Pension (P): 200.88 RMB ($31.4) hospital coverage (C): 16.82 RMB ($2.63) Hospital coverage (F): 8.41 RMB ($1.31) Maternity insurance (C): 8.41 RMB ($1.31) Unemployment insurance (C): 16.82 RMB ($2.63) Local medical insurance (C): 8.41 RMB ($1.31) Injury insurance (C): 12.56 RMB ($1.96) Housing allowance (F): 169.8 RMB ($26.5) Housing allowance (C): 169.8 RMB ($26.5) Company portion of insurance payment: 483.92 RMB ($75.6) Personal portion of insurance payment: 379.09 RMB ($59.2)
Income before tax: 2584.8 RMB ($403.9)
Income after tax 2544.86 RMB ($397.6)
Note: The donation to the “Loving Heart Fund” is voluntary.
In the dormitory, there are amenities such as free internet, a chess and poker room, a pingpong room, leisure area, and reading room. Workers can rent books and movies for free. There are tens of internet-ready computers and internet cables for workers to use. Using their factory identification card, a worker can use the computer for two hours. If they have their own computer, there is no time constraint. There are reading rooms in both the production building and in the dormitory. The one in the production building is mainly used for resting during the ten-minute break period. Some workers will go to this reading room after work and read until dinner time, because the cafeteria is in the factory area rather than in the dorm area, walking from the dorm to cafeteria takes around 15 minutes.
Every weekend between 10 am to 3 pm, the company will arrange free transportation that will take the workers to shopping centers and other places of entertainment in order to enrich their weekend activities. The places include Dongmeng, Huaqiangbei, Hualiangshan, and the beach.
V. Living conditions
The Company offers accommodation and meals for the workers. Each meal is one RMB. Workers can choose to eat either Korean or Chinese food. If a worker chooses not to eat in the factory, then there are no meal allowances. The room is free for the workers, but the workers are in charge of the electricity and water fee. The fee is divided among the workers living in the room. It ranges from 30 RMB ($4.68) to 100 RMB ($15.62). For workers who first enter the factory, they have to live in a 6-person room. When the workers advance to a certain rank, they can move to a 4-person room. Each room has basic facilities such as a fan, air conditioner, water heater, laundry machine, bathroom, shower room, desk and chairs.
VI. Occupational safety and labor protection
Workers know that the company has an Environment, Health and Safety Committee. The company often offers environment and safety.
Workers do not come into contact with harmful chemicals much. Some positions are exposed to ethyl alcohol, but they wear protective gear for this.
After completing one year of work, they need to do a body check—which the company will pay for. As of now, there are no cases of work injuries.
There is a clinic for workers inside of the factory that operates 24/7. However, there is no clinic in the dormitory. The workers said that there might be an emergency aid in the factory because the company does provide training regarding safety. However, they do not know where the safety box is, nor do they care about the existence of the safety box.
VII. Fire Drill
There are two fire drills every year. The company will not notify the workers in advance. As of the date of this report, the most recent fire drill was in March.
VIII. Regulation measures: rewards and punishments
The company offers competency awards and bonuses. The award each person receives is different every month.
For example, if a worker has been working for the factory for more than two years, he will receive bonus different from those mentioned in the table above.
There is also a hardship allowance of 120RMB ($18.75) per month that is offered during the hot months between March and October of every year.
Workers can smoke outside of the factory during their rest time. Even within the dormitory, there is a smoking area. Workers are not allowed to smoke within the factory. Doing so will negatively affect their performance evaluation.
According to the workers, the company is currently engaged in a law suit. It seems like the company is in debt, and the revenue is not high.
Some workers reflect that they chose to work for this company is because of the great benefits. In terms of benefit, they claim that they cannot find a better company. Most of the time, workers chose to stay in factory because the factory offers free internet, leisure rooms, and other entertainment facilities.
When clients come to audit in the factory, the factory will remind the workers and require the workers to perform the 5S well.
Due to the economic slowdown, there are fewer orders, and therefore, overtime is rare. On April 22, around 30 workers quit their jobs. As of the date of this report, many workers have been quitting their jobs. On May 17, another group of workers is going to leave the company. So far, three high-level administrators have left the factory.
Investigation Report on Huizhou Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
Hui Zhou Samsung Electronic Co., Ltd. (referred as Samsung in the report) is Samsung’s Xie Li She (operates as a subsidiary of Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd). The company has four factories. The are located in Huizhou city, Chenjiang Town. Currently, the company has around 10,000 workers. The main productions are Samsung phones, MP3, MP4, Mini stereos, amplifier machines, and family cinema eletronics, etc. The products are mainly sold to Europe and Americas, covering more than 100 countries and regions. Their sale in 2011 is 7.5 billion USD. This marked the company as the biggest export company in Huizhou.
According to the workers, Xie Li She is different from supplier. Xie Li She only supply labor power, all the expenses are covered by Samsung; their source of income is from labor processing fee. In the other hand, suppliers provide materials and are in charge of the expenses; their source of income is from the product they sold.
The company was founded in 1992 and went into operation in 1993. The registered capital is 32 million USD. In 2006, the company introduced cellphone production, and has been expanding since then. As for now, the company has more than 40 production lines for GSM/CDMA/3G cellphone, and more than 30 of SMD full automatic production lines. The company covers an area of 120 thousands of square meters. The floor area is around 35 thousand square meters. The company is known for its pleasant ambience. In 1996, the HuiZhou City Afforestation (Greening) Committee rated the company as “Garden-style Unit.”
Recruitment and exit
Samsung recruits most of its worker from school. When student work force can not fulfill the company’s labor demand, the company hires people from channels such as front
gate recruiting, labor dispatch entity, factory worker suppliers, internet, and etc. Girls have relatively more channels to get into the factory when compared to boys. The requirement for Samsung’s recruitment in school: students currently at three years Junior college (technical school). There is no restriction on majors. Workers need to be around 17-20 years old, with 20/20 vision, and 1.55cm in height. One of the major hiring criteria is resilience ability. Recruiters will test individual’ resilience ability by asking relevant questions too see if the individual processes the necessary resilience ability. The ratio of guys to girls is 1 to 7; Samsung does not hire a single more guy that is out of the ratio. The requirements for front gate recruiting are rarely make known to public as the factory only recruit through this method when it is in badly need of labors. However, a lot of people know that the recruiting requirements includes high school or technical school degree, workers need to be between 17-22 years old. When the factory can not fulfill their labor demand, they often will relax the age restriction to 17-25 years old, or even to 17-30 years old. The front gate recruiting time is on Saturday 6am to 12pm. Sometime the factory recruits people on Monday morning from 7am to 8am. The number of employed workers ranged from dozens to hundreds. Internet recruiting is often use for skilled positions, therefore, the requirement for age is not strict. Even though Samsung has many hiring channels, only part of the recruitment requirement is open to public. There are many hidden hiring requirements such as never hire any one with tattoo, dye hair, and people who are disabled. When compared to Samsung, the age restriction is more relaxed in labor dispatch entity, factory suppliers, and cooperative agencies. And the academic requirement is lower as well; they only require middle school degree. The recruiting time is different from Samsung, but similar to Samsung, they also focus on hiring women workers.
According to Samsung’s provisions, the company cannot hire any child laborer. But in reality, children are often recruited into the factory. Some children cheated by borrow other’ identification cards to get into the factory. However, the factory did not take any actions regarding child laborers even when they know about the existence of child laborers. Furthermore, when hiring child laborers, the company will give the identification card of the adult workers to child laborers. Worker from equipment department claimed that such situation is prevalent.
When workers enter the factory, they only need to summit a copy of their identification card and diplomat. Other documents are not relevant when enter the company. According to the workers in MID department, they were only required to summit 5 copies of identification card when they enter the factory. And the factory only look at diplomat to make sure it is not falsified document. Samsung does not charge the workers nor will it detain worker’s documentations during the hiring process. According to workers from HHP-SUB department, they were required to summit three copies of identification card, and the factory only look at diplomat to make sure it is not falsified document. The probation period is one month. Employees could quit in the probation period. There are already a lot of copies of the supervisor’s signatures on the resignation forms, and those forms will take effect once the Employee Leader signs.
Underage workers are working under same conditions as the adult workers. There is neither a special work arrangement nor a protection arrangement for child underage workers. When recruiting from schools, the factory offers free body check for the student workers. However, in the case of front gate recruiting, workers are required to get body check themselves first and get trained later. There is a factory entrance training that lasted for a week. Three days are spent in the factory while the other 3 days are outside training that takes place in “Sunlight Education
Training Center” and in hotels. The outside training is usually in the form of classes. The training includes information such as company history, service philosophy, core values, safety issues, benefits, interpersonal relations and team spirit etc. The in-factory training includes information such as manufacturing processes, factory regulations and skill training. The training period is paid.
The company signs labor contract with its worker on July of every year. The period before signing contract is consider probation period. For example, if a worker joins the factory on July, then there will be no probation period for him. Supposedly, if a worker wants to resign during probation period, then he needs to tell the administrator three days in advance. However, as e employees from MID department told us, workers need to inform the administrator three months before resignation, and it was hard to resign as the administrator would usually not allow. Only if the resigning employee is very determined, will the administrator permit the request.
The company signs labor contract with its worker on July of every year. The contracted period is two years. When signing contracts, workers need to follow the instructions by the human resource department and fill the contract information accordingly. And workers will have a copy of the contract after they sign the contract.
The regular working hours are eight hours a day for five days, any additional hours will be counted as overtime. However, in fact, 10 hours a day is the regular working hour in the
factory, and workers have to work 6 days a week, 26-27 days a month. There is a limit in overtime hours of 40 hours per month. There is no peak season or off seasons in some departments, so the overtime limit is always 40 hours a month in the whole year.
According to the workers from MID department, workers work 10 hours a day, six days a week, 26 days a month. March to July of every year is considered as off season; the overtime hours are restricted to less than 38 hours. However, there is no overtime restriction during peak season; workers need to work well over 100 hours of overtime. The time for day shift is from 8:00am to 5:oopm, and 5:40pm to 7:40 pm. The night shift is from 8pm to 5am, and 5:40 am to 7:40 am. The normal meal break is one hour, however, when there is a need for overtime, the meal break lessen to 40 minutes. Workers need to go to work shop 20 minutes earlier than their normal working shift for a 20 minutes meeting. The 20 minutes meeting time is without paid. However, workers get ten minutes of break every two hours, this break is paid.
The normal working time period for HHP MAIN IP department and HHP-IP department is 10 hours a day, six days a week, 24 days a month. The department is running on two shifts. Day time shift is from 8:00am to 8:00 pm. Night shift is from 8:00 pm to 8:00am. Every summer is off season. Overtime is expected during peak season. If a worker does not wish to work overtime, then he will have to submit a written request. If the administrator does not approve the request, the worker will have to work overtime. If he failed to do so, he will be punished by deducting points off from his performance record, thus affecting his merit pay. Workers can change shift styles every two weeks when Saturday or Sunday, and they can take at least one day off during the changes, or sometimes two days off.
As for the HHP-SUB department, there is a regulated overtime hours for the contracted workers, but not for the dispatched workers. Workers in the VD department work 10 hours a day, 6 days a week, 26 days a month. The department only has day time shift. The working hours is from 8:00am to 5:00pm, 5:40pm to 7:40 pm. The regulated overtime hours is limited to less than 100 hours per month. Meal break is one hour. However, during the days with overtime work, the meal break lessens to 40 minutes. Workers need to go to work shop 20 minutes earlier than their normal working shift for a 20 minutes meeting. The 20 minutes meeting time is without paid. However, workers get ten minutes of break every two hours, this break is paid.
The VD department is the only department that runs on single shift. Other departments run on two or three shifts. Most of the departments are running on two shifts, with day time shift begins on 8:00 am and ends on 6:00 pm, and night shift starts on 8:00 pm and ends on 6:00 am. However, in the case of SMD department, it is running on three shifts.
The working time for management staffs and office staffs is from 8:00-18:00. They do not need to work during night shift.
For workers who do not wish to work overtime, they will have to summit a written request for leave. The company will often do ideological work, and have the worker to work overtime voluntarily. However, during our interviews, many workers claimed that it will be impossible for the production if no one works overtime, and they wish to work overtime to earn some extra money.
The company adopts electronic recording system to record worker’s work hours. Before distributing salaries, the company will check the work attendance for its worker. If any error exists, workers can ask administrators to fix the error. However, there are only two chances for fixing the mistakes every month. Most of the workers could accomplish the workload fixed by the company. Although the company made it a rule of not allowing early start of work, the employees could still start working early. However, if the workload is accomplished, the worker could not leave posts early.
IV. Wages and benefits
The company distributes salaries on the 15th of every month. The date might change a day or two when the 15th of the months happens to be weekends. The average monthly salary for Samsung workers is around 2800 RMB ($437.5), including the base salary, overtime pay, and bonus. This does not mean that all workers received similar wages; due to work time or other reasons, he wage level differs even with workers in the same position. For a newly employed worker, the basic salary for newlyemployees is around 1702 RMB ($265.93). The dispatched workers and officially employed workers enjoy different basic salaries. It is different during probation period too. There is also severe stratification among salaries. As for the VD department, if a worker does not wish to work overtime, he can tell the administrator. However, during the peak season, the administrator will not allow such request. Working without overtime will affect the salary levels. For example, in HHP-SUB department, refusal of overtime work will lead to social security insurance deduction of 81 RMB/month ($12.7) and extra dorm fee deduction of 5 RMB/month ($0.77).
Samsung does help its worker to procure social insurances such as pension, industrial injury, health care, and unemployed pension. As for the contracted workers, Samsung also help to procure housing fund. Workers will have five days of paid annual leave after completing one year of work. Welfare facilities include leisure garden, basketball court, soccer field, library, internet café, fitness center, barbershop, health center, Pingpong room, and television room. The company was ranked by the Huizhou City Afforestation Committee as “Garden style factory.” Since many of the workers are from local areas and live in their home. Samsung arrange free transportation for the workers who live outside of the factory. The main route includes Baiyun mountain, JinMao, GuangChang, and other stations.
The company deducts 40 RMB of board expense from worker’s salary, and the company bears the rest of the board expenses. However, workers are only entitled to the company’s allowances when they order set meal. The set meal consists of four dishes and one soup. Parts of the workers reflected that they do not like the food provided by the factory. Some decided to eat outside rather than in factory canteens. The company does not provide any allowance when workers dine out.
There are five dorm buildings in the factory area. The buildings can accommodate more than 4000 workers. Some of the workers are local workers, the live at home. And some of the workers choose to live outside as the factory does not provide any housing for couples. For workers who lived outside of the factory, free transportation is provided by the company. There is a fixed route for the buses to pick up the workers. Most of the rooms are for eight persons. The rooms have television, fans, closet, balcony and bathroom. Eight persons room is free of charge for its worker. There are also some rooms for two persons and for four persons. The range of appliances in these rooms includes air conditioner, computer, internet, refrigerator, speaker, telephone, closet, shoe case, balcony, restroom, bunk beds and so on. Workers said that they will have to pay to apply for these rooms.
Occupational safety and labor protection
Workers in the factory do not know the existence of Environment, Health and Safety Committee. Workers have to stand while work. They have a ten-minute break for every two hours. The most common chemical that the workers are exposed to is ethyl alcohol. Some specialized workers are in charge of other chemicals such as thinner. The company pays for the yearly occupational body check for workers who have been working for over a year. Work injuries do not happen often. Every section of the buildings has an emergency aid kit. Also, on the first floor of the dorm building, there is a clinic for the workers. In HHP-SUB department, the labor protection appliance can only be changed before work starts on every Monday, Wednesday or Friday.
The factory had a fire drill during April.
VIII. Regulation measures: rewards and punishments.
Workers at Samsung, Dispatched labor, Xieli She and Stay-in Factory Suppliers enjoy different reward and punishment regulations. Some workers are not aware of their rewards or other issues, and some do not care about the formation of their wages.
When Samsung is facing audit, there are special personnel receiving the auditors. The company asks the uncontract workers to dodge the auditor. The company will notify the workers in advance, and request the workers to abide the company provisions such as wearing labor protection appliance, maintain orderly environments. Samsung requests workers not to disclose their salary information to anyone. Therefore, when there are mistakes in the overtime working hours, workers will consult the relevant department to fix the problems. And the workers will destroy their payroll tickets afterward.
According to the workers from the MID department, networking is the most important things that can lead you to higher positions and higher salary. Some workers entered the company because of their connection with the managerial personnel; they only need to train for half a month to become department monitors or other managerial positions. When compared with interpersonal relations, skills and experiences are not highly valued in terms of promotion and salary increment. According to the workers form the HHP-SUB department, during February of 2012, workers needed to fill out the labor contract as indicated by the managers. They did not allow the workers to fill in the entry date. This practiced was changed after some complaints were made to the human resources department. Workers reflected that when signing contracts, they did not have enough time to read over the content of the contract. After signing the contract, most workers did not feel the need to read over the contract.
The company does not allow its workers to bring any metal hardware into the work place. Thus electronics like cellphone is prohibited. Worker has to stand while working. When Korean managers visit the factory, factory administrators will instruct workers not to talk and not to look up at the visitor. Samsun workers claimed that the company deducts social security fee from their salary, but they have never received any social security card from the company.
Workers also claimed that asking for leave is very difficult. In most cases, leave cannot be approved by the managers. Even if the administrator allows the leave, they will deduct the performance points off, which will negatively influenced the workers’ performance bonus.
X. Labor conditions at company inside Samsung factories
The average salary for Shenzhen Elite Dispatch Company (Huizhou branch) is around 2400 RMB. Since April 1, 2012, the salary for workers from Elite Dispatch Company increased from 1560 RMB to 1702 RMB. Also, workers are entitled to a birthday present as an additional benefit. For the dispatched workers from Elite Dispatch Company, if they demonstrate excellent work ability and pass the exam, they will be promoted to become “multi-skills” workers, and enjoy the 100RMB/month of bonus.
The dorm buildings for Shenzhen Elite Dispatch workers are outside of the factory. There are two buildings, one for men and one for women, it can accommodate up to 3000 people. Male workers reflected that the living condition is very bad as the room is tiny; the corridor is narrow; and there is only one bathroom and shower room to share for the whole floor. Every floor has ten rooms; eight of the rooms are four persons per room and two of the rooms six persons room. There is a fan in every room. And every worker has a storage box.
Huizhou YeAn Property Management Company, a company stationed in Samsung factory, mainly hires cleaner and hauler. The requirements for hiring are: 1) under the age of 48, good physical condition. 2) Possess new version of identification card and other qualified documentations. During interview, workers need to bring their identification card and two copies of it, and one two inches photo. The average monthly salary for YeAn workers are around 2000 RMB. The basic salary is around 950 to 1000RMB, and the overtime pay is 8.09 RMB an hour. Overtime pay for weekend is slightly higher, which came to be 10.7 RMB an hour. The working time is from 6:30 am to 6 pm, with one hour break for both lunch and dinner. The average working hours is 9.5 hours. Sometimes, the hours is 12 hours including the overtime hours. Workers get 2-4 days off every month.
ZhongKai Security Company, a company that is stationed in Samsung and is in charge of security issues. The recruiting requirements for security personnel are: 1) Male security personnel need to be veteran under the age of 26, and with 170CM in height. 2) Female security personnel need to be 160 CM in height, under the age of 22, and have computer skill. 3) Need to have at least middle school degree. 4) Capable of hard work, obedience, and possess the knowledge of fire protection. The recruiting time is every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 9:00 am. Job seekers need to bring their identification card, original copy of their degree to the company. ZhongKai provides some benefits to its workers including: 1) room and broad coverage. 2) five major social security benefits.
The hiring requirement for HTS Shenzhen Company Limited., a company stationed in Samsung,
are: 1) from age 18 to age 42; 2) Middle school graduate; 3) Women need to be more than 155cm in height, men need to be more than 165 in height. During interview, job seekers need to bring their indentification card, diplomat and a two inches photo. The company does not hire anyone from Henan, Sichuang, Congqing. Neither do they hire anyone with tattoo and long hair.
The average salary for HTS workers are around 2000 RMB. Workers have to work around 70 hours of overtime per month. The company deducts social insurance fee from worker’s paycheck. However, workers never received any social security card.
Huizhou Solutec Engineering Co., LTD is another company that stationed in Samsung, it
specialized in plastic production. The average salary for its workers is around 2200RMB. The worker’s salary is calculated daily; the salary for a day is 21.75 RMB, this amount to 950RMB a
month. However, if a worker works less than a 20 days, then he will not receive the full 950 RMN. If a worker works more than 21.75 days, then there is a bonus of 30 RMB per month. If a worker completed a year of service, then there will be a 50 RMB bonus per month; and if a worker completed three years of service, then there will be a 100 RMB bonus per month. Solutec Engineering Company offers free accommodation and meals for its workers. During peak season, there is a 3 hours of overtime a day, workers work 7 days a week, 30 days a month. This means that workers often work for whole month without a single day off. Worker in Solutec can refuse to work overtime. However, workers can hardly ask for personal leave unless accompanied by doctor’s note or any medical record.
Investigative Report on Labor Practices At Tianjin Samsung Electronics Company (TSEC)
Part 1: Factory Profile Tianjin Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd (TSEC) is the product of a joint venture by Tianjin Communication and Broadcasting Co., Ltd (TCB) and Korea’s Samsung Electronics Joint Stock Company. Established in April of 1993, TSEC is located as No. 12, Fourth Avenue in Tianjin’s Economic and Technological Development Zone. Currently, the company primarily produces semi-finished televisions – assembling primary parts, then giving products Xiqing factory for speaker installation before the final covering – and DVBD players.
There is no set cycle for peak- and off-seasons. Normally, the half year before May is regarded as the peak-season, and the working hours and the number of vehicles required for delivery can be predicted. According to a security guide, during peak-seasons, there are around 130 delivery vehicles every day. However, in the past one or two months, this has reduced to around 90 every day.
There are currently around 2,000 workers in the factory, the ratio of male to female workers being 1:4. 60% of the workers are dispatched workers, 30% are student workers including interns and students recommended by their schools after graduation—and 10% are officially employed workers who have signed labor contracts with the Samsung factory. Except for additional required explanation, this report is based on the information given by workers in the factory.
Part 2: Hiring Practices The factory doesn't go into society to directly conduct hiring itself, and it mainly depends on labor dispatch companies and designated schools for worker recruitment. The factory requires that the workers must be between the ages of 18 and 24 and have an education level of high school or above. Labor dispatch companies recruit a portion of workers themselves while also recruiting from labor services agencies. These agencies usually charge a service fee of 300 RMB ($46.9) for female workers, including a 100 RMB ($15.6) introduction fee and 200 RMB ($31.3) administrative fee. Male workers must pay 700 RMB ($109.4), in most cases paying 400 RMB ($62.5) before they start working and having the 300 RMB ($46.9) administrative fee deducted from their wages in the first month. The workers sent by labor dispatch companies are still required to take both the exam and interview conducted by the factory, the admission rate only being around 20%. The workers need to pay a 100 RMB ($15.6) security deposit if they want to live in the dormitories provided by the factory, and they can receive the money back when they move out. In addition, it is required that these workers should pay 20 RMB ($3.13) for dormitory entry cards, but the workers never receive the card or get the fee back. After being hired, there is paid training which lasts three to seven days. The training covers factory history, wages, regulations and management, the knowledge related to electronic products and occupational safety. However, according to interviewed workers, the occupational safety training is useless for actual work in the factory.
Part 3: Labor Contracts All dispatch workers, including student workers sent by labor dispatch companies, will usually sign a contract the dispatch companies. The contract is only effective for one
year, including a one month probation period. A copy of the contract will usually be given to the workers after one or two months. Student workers sent directly by designated schools will sign a one-year contract with their schools, and the contract covers legally important topics, such as wage and benefits, working hours, working conditions, and occupational safety.. The contract will also include content related to the protection of secrets. After one year, workers can sign a one or two year contract with the factory if they wish. By signing this contract, workers become officially employed by the factory. Compared with the dispatch company’s labor contract discussed above, this factory contract is more detailed, which covering wage and benefits, working conditions, job duties, labor protection, social insurance, and the rights and responsibilities of both the employer and employee. Some student workers have contracts with their schools or labor dispatch companies, and the contracts last one to three months. This kind of contract only covers information like the internship period and worker discipline. Because the investigator conducted this research during a period in which no student interns worked, this investigation failed to collect information relevant to this type of contract.
Part 4: Working Hours Depending on the department, there are two kinds of shifts: a day shift and a night shift. The workers on the night shift constitute 25% of total workers, and most of them DVD player production department. Workers in the TV production department primarily take the day shifts. Workers on the day shift start work at 8:00am, but they are required to arrive at the factory 15 to 20 minutes earlier for a meeting. Workers can have lunch at 11:30, taking lunch according to their department. Workers have 50 minutes to have lunch. If there is
no need for overtime, they can clock out at 5:00pm. In addition, there is a 15-minute break in both the morning and afternoon. If overtime is less than two hours, workers don’t can only have dinner after work. If the overtime is more than two hours, then they are permitted 30 minutes for dinner beginning at 5:00pm. Workers on night shifts start working at 8:00pm, getting one hour for a nighttime meal, which usually starts at 12:00am. They can get off duty at 5:00am, but they are required to continue their work if needed. Night shift workers get two 15-minute breaks, one before the nighttime meal and the other afterwards.
During the peak season, workers are usually required to work 3 hours of overtime per day, 27 days per month. During the off season, they work one hour of overtime per day, 25 days per month. The factory allows workers to confirm their overtime record every month, and mistakes in the record will usually be corrected if workers report them to the managers. Working overtime does not depend on workers’ willingness to do so. Whether or not they need to work overtime is decided by production plans and actual production capacity. For instance, if a particular production decides that it needs overtime, every worker on the line ID required to work overtime. If they do not want to worker overtime, workers must submit a formal application to management. But workers’ wages depend primarily on overtime, so no worker would be willing to pass up overtime opportunities. (Details of this issue are included in part 5.)
Part 5: Wage and Benefits
Wages are composed of the base salary, the performance bonus, and overtime wages. The base salary is 1,450 RMB ($226.6)/month. The bonus depends on performance as is divided into five categories—A, B, C, D and E. The bonus for C is 550 RMB (85.9)/month, the bonus for A is 180% of that for C, the bonus for B is 150% of that for C, and the bonus for D is just 50% of that for C. If workers got E, they would not receive any bonus in that month. Overtime wages are calculated based on the total of the base salary and the performance bonus. Take the bonus for C, for instance. The total amount a C worker can receive is base salary of 1,450 RMB ($226.6) plus a performance bonus of 550 RMB (85.9), which is 2,000 RMB ($312.5) in total. Based on different overtime wage calculation methods, the workers will be paid either 1.5, 2 or 3 times the 2,000 RMB ($312.5) base number. The factory conducts a performance evaluation once per month, and the evaluation is decided by management based on the performance of the workers in a given month. According to interviewed workers, in most cases, 80 percent of workers get a C in the evaluation. During the off season, the average salary for workers is around 3,000 RMB ($468.8) month, while during the peak season, the monthly salary can reach 4,000 RMB ($625), with some workers even receiving 5,000 RMB ($781.3)/month. However, the overtime wages exceeds the amount of the base salary. In other words, workers depend disproportionately on overtime instead of the regular work schedule. On the 21st of every month, the factory will send the base salary for days of full attendance and the overtime wages in a given month to the workers' bank accounts. For instance, on May 21, workers will receive the base salary and the performance bonus for May as well as the overtime wages for April. If workers ask for leave or have an absence during the period from the 21st to the 31st of May, the corresponding wages will be deducted from their May overtime wages, which is distributed in June. In most cases, workers are required to sign their names on the wage slip one day before issuing wages, and they are also be provided a copy of the wage slip.
The short-term student workers receive no social insurance. Dispatch workers enjoy workers compensation insurance, medical insurance, and a pension, for which they need to pay 160 RMB ($25) per month. Officially employed workers who are not permanent residents in Tianjin enjoy one more benefit: a housing fund, paying 330 ($51.6) every month for this benefit. Compared with non-Tianjin permanent-residents, formal employees who are permanent residents of Tianjin enjoy two more benefits: unemployment insurance and maternity insurance, paying around 380 ($59.4) per month for both. During the interview, some workers expressed that they are not willing to be officially employed workers, even when they meet the requirements, because officially employed workers need to spend more on fees related to social insurance.
Part 6: Living Conditions There are cafeterias in the factory. Day shift workers’ lunch and night shift workers’ nighttime meal are provided by the factory. Breakfast and dinner each cost 1.5 yuan, and workers need to pay by themselves. However, workers can choose whether or not to eat it in the cafeteria. For breakfast, workers can have soybean milk and choose either an egg, steamed bun, fried bread stick, or flatbread. The lunch, dinner, and nighttime meal include vegetables dishes, one meat dish, a bowl of soup, and fruit, such as tomatoes or an apple. Except for the meat dish, workers are allowed to have one more serving for free. Day shift workers who live far away commute to and from the factory by way of the factory bus. They usually have breakfast and lunch in the cafeteria, returning to a
place near their dormitories for dinner. Night shift workers only eat a nighttime meal in the cafeteria. According to workers interviews and investigator findings, the cafeteria environment and the amount of food are both satisfactory, and there are many types of dishes from which workers can choose. However, the workers expressed that there are too many people eating in the cafeteria at the same time, so it is always crowded.
The factory provides its workers with dormitories for free. One dormitory, located beside the factory, mainly houses senior workers. This dormitory has four levels with 20 rooms on each level. There are four bunk beds in each room, and 8 workers are allowed to live in each room. However, in most cases, there are only 6 or 7 people in each one. Everyone is provided with a cabinet to store their private property. Other than this, there are tables, chairs, air conditioners, and electric fans in each room. There are also cafeterias, television rooms, and other entertainment facilities in the dormitories.
About five kilometers from the factory, there is a 6-level apartment building in the Tianbin community with about 20 rooms on each level. The situation in this building is quite similar to the dormitory we mentioned above. There are two toilets, one shower
room, and two sinks in each room. There is also a television room on each level which is open for use between 10:00am to 10:00pm. There is limited amount of electricity and water permitted for use in each room, and the workers of a given room are responsible for paying the part of the bill that exceeds the limit. Workers may need to pay 10 RMB ($1.56) per month for water and electricity in the summer and winter, and they usually don't need to pay in spring and fall. Both dormitories on and off the factory property set strict limits on the entry hours; nobody is allowed to enter after 11:00pm. The Samsung dormitory beside the factory has managers at the gate, and the dormitory closes at 11:00pm. The management of the dormitory in Tianbin community is relatively lax; although to the door must be locked at 11:00pm, workers coming back late can get in through the windows.
Part 7: Work Environment More than 90 percent of workers have to work standing. According to interviewed workers, the first week working in the factory is the most difficult, their legs feeling incredibly rigid after work. However, they can adapt to the conditions after a period. In addition, they get a 15-minutes break during which they can relax their legs. There is a reading area and billiard room in the factory; however, due to the short breaks, few workers use these facilities. Some workers have expressed that the work site managers are crude. Workers are criticized and even required to write self-criticism when they make mistakes. However, more than half of managers have a better attitude, willing to communicate with workers and help them with their problems. Some workers said this may be related to the ratio of male workers, where female workers are less likely to oppose management, which is the driving reason for the factory not hiring many male workers. The production department has a strict production schedule. For instance, if they fail to meet their goal after 8 hours of work in a given day, workers are required to work
overtime. Overtime exceeding 30 minutes will be recorded, but overtime less than 30 minutes will not necessarily be recorded. According to interviewed workers, this can only be decided by the manager, and it is totally dependent on the mood of the manager at the time. There are around 40 workers in the television production line, but the production output varies based on the product. For instance, they can produce 3,000 32-inch televisions in 8 hours, while they can only produce 1,000 60-inch televisions during the same length of time. Due to the large size of the products, it is common for workers to get injured during production, though the most common injuries are not usually serious. There is a health clinic in the factory in which workers can get wounds dressed. According to a new worker who has worked in the factory for a month and a half, he has witnessed two workers injure their hands.
Based on discussions with many workers, the investigators failed to find any existing risk factors associated with the production process. However, there may be some electromagnetic radiation in the work site, but this type of risk is difficult to confirm and needs to be investigated by professionals. In any case, workers haven’t displayed or expressed any obvious problems related to radiation.
Part 8: Other Issues There are unions in the factory, but few workers are clear about the functions of these unions. Some assert that unions are the organization that aims to protect workers' rights, but they have no idea how they might receive help from these unions. Most workers believe that the main function of the unions is to organize entertainment activities.
There is a suggestion box near the cafeteria in the factory. Aside from this, workers have no other methods to communicate complaints to management. Workers have been injured expressed that they won’t use the suggestion box to express their needs because they strongly believe that it cannot solve their problems. When a conflict occurs, workers usually choose to endure, sometimes quitting when they can no longer bear the unfair treatment. Workers must apply for resignation with their team leader. The applications, in most cases, will be approved, in which the resigning worker will receive all owed compensation when the resignation date arrives. Samsung Electronics Primary Issues: 1) Abuse of dispatch and student workers. The large majority of workers are dispatch workers or student workers (about 90%) 2) Gender and age discrimination 3) Illegal dispatch companies force workers to pay high fees 4) Workers are not compensated for a daily 15-minute work meeting 5) Too much overtime and too little rest. 6) Given their low base wages, workers have to do overtime. And their overtime wages surpass their normal wages, making workers dependent on overtime to make a living. 7) More than 90% of workers must work standing. 8) Lack of effective channels to express complaints. 9) Workers are clear about the union. And even if they know about the union, they don't think it can play a rights defense role for workers.
Investigative Report on Labor Practices at the Tianjin Samsung Mobile Display (TSMD)
Part 1: Factory Profile
Samsung’s joint ventures in Tianjin, China include a number of production factories: Samsung SDI, Samsung Electro-Mechanics, Samsung Communications, Samsung Photo Electronics, Samsung Electronics, and Samsung SDI Mobile. This report primary focuses on the Samsung Electronics Xiqing Factory and Samsung SDI Mobile, while also touching on information related to Samsung Communications and Samsung Photo electronics. Investigators carried out this comprehensive study via enrollment in the factories as workers as well as interviews. Except in special circumstances, all information is based on the descriptions of production line workers. Samsung SDI Mobile Company, Ltd is the product of a joint venture by Korea’s Samsung Mobile Display Joint Stock Company and Tianjin Central Electronic Information Group, Ltd. Established in July 2004, this factory currently has about 3500 workers and is one of the primary producers and retailers for mobile display devices in the world. Located in the Xiqing District micro-electronics industrial park of Tianjin City, Samsung SDI Mobile Company develops, produces, and sells every type of display device for mobile communication equipment, including new-age touch screens. Outside of supplying accessories for its cell phones, Samsung SDI Mobile Company is NOKIA’s main supplier. Its customers also include Lenovo, K-Touch, Microsoft, Apple, and HP. Samsung Electronics Company, Ltd was established in 1993. A manufacturing base for display devices, color TVs, projectors, blue ray discs, Pick-Up, and LED display modules, Samsung Electronics currently has about 3000 workers. The Xiqing Factory is a branch factory of Tianjin Samsung Electronics Company, Ltd. In 1999, the Xiqing Factory moved to the micro-electronics industrial park, in which it has a R&D and production factory in buildings A, B, and C, as well as Samsung Electronics Chinese International Quality Certification Research Center in building D, which primarily deals with the R&D and production for computer displays, color televisions, projectors, and other display media.
Part 2: Hiring Practices
The workers in Samsung's factory in Tianjin are mainly recruited from schools, employment agencies, labor dispatch companies (such as Shijizongheng, Huahan, and Guangyingwanzhong labor dispatching companies), walk-ins, and internal referrals. Among these five recruitment methods, the first three, as a whole, play the most important roles, accounting for 70% of the total employees.
The factory only employs workers between the ages of 16 and 23, and it desires employees with technical secondary school, high school, or other equivalent diplomas. Samsung only recruits a small number of male workers from schools and labor dispatch companies, primarily hiring female workers instead. Thus, female workers constitute more than 95% of the factory’s production line workforce. Direct recruitment is limited. For instance, Tianjin Samsung SDI Mobile conducts recruitment programs in front of the factory every Wednesday and Friday; however, few people get hired this way because there isn’t a residential district nearby.
Other than workers coming in via schools, walk-ins, and internal referrals, workers who are recruited via labor dispatch companies and employment agencies must pay a fee ranging from 200RMB ($31.3) to 800RMB ($125). Workers are also required to pay the 90 RMB ($14.1) health check fee, which is reimbursed into workers' salary account when they are formally hired and have worked for at least three months. If the employees need to live in the dormitory, they pay the access card security deposit, which varies depending on the
dormitory. They can get 50RMB ($7.81) of the card fee back when they resign, but they are required to pay 20 RMB ($3.13) to 30 RMB ($4.69) if they damage or lose the access card. The new employees must take a one- or two-day orientation, which introduces factory rules and regulations, wages standards, and some (but not all) occupational safety information in the factory. Applicants receive 80% of the basic wages during the training period, and they become formal workers only when they pass the training examination. However, if they fail to pass the exam, they will neither be hired nor receive any payment for the training period. According to a past employee of the factory’s HR department, about 20% of the workers are unable to pass the exam. A company named Jinji is contracted by the factory to take care of packaging and transportation work in the television and display device warehouses. Jinji recruits its workers through both independently and via intermediaries, and there is no limit on the workers who apply.
Part 3: Labor Contracts
Workers recruited from the designated schools (including Yangquan Secondary Technical School in Shanxi Province, Langfang Electronic Engineering School in Hebei Province, and the Business School in Jiangxi Province) normally work as “interns”. Workers recruited in this way need to sign an internship contract with their schools in the first year, after which period they can sign a labor contract directly with the factory. Workers hired through direct recruitment and internal referrals can sign a contract with the factory only if they pass the training exam. This contract usually lasts two years, including a three-month probation period. At that point, the factory provides an incomplete contract a worker is only required to sign. The factory usually provides the workers a copy of the labor contract after one or two months.
In most cases, the factory recruits technicians and managers directly. They are required to go through a three-month probation period, and during which they just need to conduct the entry formalities instead of signing any contract. They are only permitted to sign a labor contract after passing the qualification process during the probation period. The labor contract covers the wages and benefits, working hours, and working conditions. Aside from detailed information on occupational safety and others matter required on the contract by law, the factory also adds an item about information security. Workers recruited through employment agencies and labor dispatch companies usually sign a labor contract with the agencies or companies. They usually sign the contract when they start working. However, in most cases, the factory won't provide copies of the labor contract to the workers. Although the contracts these workers sign with agencies or dispatch companies are similar to the factory contract in that contract covers legally-required items, it is not as detailed as the factory contract discussed above.
Contracted workers don't need to sign any labor contract or agreement with the contractor company, and they are not required to conduct any entry procedures. Because the contractor company has no office in the factory, the workers have to exchange their IDs for pass cards at the front gate’s security office. They only get their IDs back when they finish their work at the end of the day.
Part 4: Working Hours
The factory divides shifts into a day shift and a night shift, differing across departments and in the number of workers. A long day shift is usually arranged only when there are not enough workers; this shift begins at 8:00am and ends at 5:00pm. However, workers usually have to work overtime until 8:00pm or even 10:00pm. During the shift, workers can take one hour to have lunch, which starts at noon. At 10:00am and 3:00pm, workers are permitted to have a paid 10-minute break, and the 20 minutes is included in working hours. Workers are only permitted to have dinner after they get off work. Day and night shifts switch every week. The day shift starts at 8:00am and ends at 8:00pm; the night shift starts at 8:00pm and ends at 8:00am. Both include a one-hour meal time. Usually, every shift lasts 11 hours, including 3 hours of overtime. However, if there is a shortage of labor, workers need to work 1 or 2 extra hours. On average, then, workers work 12 to 13 hours per day; this is an especially prevalent circumstance toward the end of the year.
With respect to working days, there are two types of schedules at the factory: "4 days on, 2 days off" and "regular work-rest schedule". The first arrangement is pretty clear; workers get two days off every six days. The two days are randomly arranged, falling on either weekdays or weekends. Under such a schedule, workers are on the job 20 days per month. The factory will then subtract two days from the workers’ overtime hours, ensuring a normal record of work attendance. Under a "regular work-rest schedule", workers get to rest on Sunday. But when there is a labor shortage or are many orders from customers, workers can only take one day or two days off per month. This situation is more frequently witnessed one or two months before and after the Spring Festival and is especially serious in the production department of TSMD. For example, the contracted workers at the finished product warehouse of Samsung Electronics work from 8:00am to 8:00pm, and the package workers work from 8:00am to 10:00pm. The workers only get 30 minutes for lunch and dinner. The meal time is not fixed, and workers divide into two or three rotating groups for meals. Usually, workers don't work on the weekends, but they must work on Saturday if there is unexpected vehicle scheduling, which usually occurs once per month.
Part 5: Wages and Benefits
The factory calculates wages based on a time. In April 2012, according to the newest wage rate schedule, workers are paid at least 1600 RMB ($250) during the probation periods, and the overtime wage 1.5, 2, or 3 times this minimum wage. After probation, the minimum wage increases to 1800 RMB ($281.3), and overtime wages are adjusted accordingly. However, some students and interns get paid far below the wage standard required by law. For instance, in May 2010, a student working in TSMD as an intern only received 750 RMB ($117.2) even though the legal minimum wage in Tianjin is 920 RMB ($143.8). Every month, the team leaders provide performance evaluations based on workers' performance, for which workers can receive bonuses ranging from 200 RMB ($313.3) to 1000 RMB ($156.3). In most cases, the bonus is around 500RMB ($78.1), but workers can only receive the bonus when they have worked in the factory for at least 6 months. In
addition, day shift workers get a 7.5 RMB ($1.17) bonus, and night shift workers get a 15 RMB ($2.34) bonus. If the profit the factory gains during a given period reaches a certain standard, workers can also receive a bonus ranging from 500 RMB ($78.1) to 1000RMB ($156.3). This usually only occurs once a year and will only be distributed to formal workers, excluding workers in probation periods, contracted workers, interns, and other informal workers. In most cases, the monthly salary for workers is around 3500 RMB ($546.9). At the end of a year or when there is a labor shortage, workers can receive more than 5000 RMB ($781.3), during which time, of course, workers must work longer hours in order to receive the high salaries. Due to the young age of these workers, their awareness of rights protection is poor. They couldn't find their pay stubs and couldn’t remember the specific amount of money they receive every month. Therefore, we will provide an example.
The minimum salary is 1800 RMB ($468.8) the hourly wage is 10 RMB ($1.56), and the hourly overtime wage is 15 RMB ($2.34), 20 RMB ($3.13), or 30 RMB ($4.69). A worker is on the job 28 days per month, 11 hours per day. They work 66 hours of weekday overtime (3 hrs x 22 days) and 66 hours of weekend overtime (11 hrs x 6 days), so the overtime wages for this worker are 2310 RMB ($360.9) ([15 RMB+20 RMB] x 66). The bonus for day and night shifts is 292 RMB ($45.6) ([7.5 RMB+15 RMB] x13). Therefore, the total wages of this worker for this month is 4902 RMB ($765.9) (basis salary of 1800 RMB + bonus of 500 RMB + allowance of 292 RMB + overtime wages of 2310 RMB).
Around the 15th of every month, the factory will issue the previous month's wages via bank accounts. Workers who are registered permanent residents in Tianjin are provided with social insurance and housing allowances, including work injury insurance, medical insurance, pension, unemployment and birth insurance and housing fund, and workers who are nonresidents are only provided with a partial social insurance benefits and housing allowances. However, workers are not clear about which of the three types of social insurance is
provided to them. The investigators had a discussion with staff in the factory’s HR department on this topic but still unable to gather a clear answer. The contracted workers in the Samsung finished product warehouse receive a fixed salary. The wages for the first month is 1800 RMB ($468.8). Starting from the second month, workers can wages of 2200 RMB ($343.8), including the full attendance bonus of 200 RMB ($31.3). In other words, if a contracted worker isn't absent or doesn't ask for a leave in a given month, then he can receive a monthly salary of 2200 RMB ($343.8), but he won't enjoy any other bonuses or benefits. The salary will be distributed on the 15th of every month, and the financial department staff of the contracting company will go to the factory to pick up the salary of their workers. There is no detailed payroll for these workers.
Part 6: Living Conditions
There are dining halls in this factory. Day shift workers get lunch for free, and night shift workers get a nighttime meal for free. The breakfast costs 1.5 RMB ($0.23); the dinner costs 3.5 RMB ($0.55). Workers should pay for the both by themselves, but they eat the meals in any place they want, whether or not it’s the dining halls. For breakfast, workers get soybean milk, and can choose either a steamed bun, fried bread stick, or flatbread. All lunch, dinner, and nighttime meals include two vegetable dishes, one meat dish, and fruit. The contracted workers in the finished product warehouse of Samsung Electronics can get a free lunch and dinner by using meal tickets. Unlike the lunch and the dinners of workers mentioned above, the contracted workers do not get fruit, but they can add more portions of food at no cost.
Workers living far away from the factory need to commute by factory bus. They usually have breakfast and lunch in the dining halls and go back to their dormitory after work, eating
dinner nearby. Night shift workers just have their nighttime meals in the dining halls. According to workers’ accounts and investigators’ findings, the dining hall environment and food amount are satisfactory. However, food choices are largely limited. Workers can only have three types of dishes every day with no other alternatives. The factory provides dormitories for workers. Each room in the dormitories is as large as 20 square meters (50 square feet), with 4 bunk beds in each, allowing for 8 workers. But in most cases, there are only 6 workers per room. Every worker is provided a locker in which they can put their valuables in it. There are table, chairs, an air conditioner, heater, and electronic fans in each room. There is one public restroom and two sinks on each level. There is also a television room and a shower room in each dormitory. There are cleaners that are responsible for all dormitory area except for the bedrooms. Workers are not allowed to use any electronics in the dormitories. They must to go the public areas on the first level to charge their mobile phones. Here they can lock their mobile phones in a locker and then take them back when the phones are fully charged.
Workers are not charged to live in the dormitories. They may need to pay 10 RMB ($1.56)/month for water and electricity in summer and winter, and they usually don't need to pay in spring and fall.
Part 7: Work Environment
Workers in Samsung SDI, Samsung Electronics, and Samsung Photo Electronics need to stand constantly while working. The chairs provided can only be used when workers are on break.
The managers in the work site of Samsung SDI and Samsung Electronics are very mean to workers. The managers report the workers’ mistakes —including working too slowly, misoperation, or failing to complete work on time— immediately to the team leaders, who then may use very loud, abusive language to reprimand the workers in question. Moreover, there is no effective channel by which can respond or make a report of such treatment. The HR department is actually responsible for these kinds of complaints, but the staffs in this department usually ignore workers' grievances. According to a person who once worked in the HR department, many workers would ask questions concerning their salary or bring up other complaints, but his HR colleagues usually ignored them. This kind of situation is rarely seen in Samsung Photo Electronics. Although the management here is also rude sometimes, workers are more able to resolve the issue through the HR department. The security check in the Samsung Photo Electronics factory is very strict. Workers are not allowed to have electronics, such as their cell phones, on their person when they enter the production site. They must lock their electronics in their personal lockers before work and then go through the security check of both the electronic security gate as well as the security guards after work. The security guards and some managers in the work site are rude, and they sometimes even beat up workers. According to information provided by our investigators in the products warehouse of Samsung, a manager regularly beat up the contracted workers. The security guards would also beat up workers who were not standing in line or who were disobeying the rules. These types of incidents have all been confirmed by many workers in the Samsung factory as well as other factories nearby. Because the factory is only responsible for assembling or producing core components, workers face less physical danger than workers in some other Samsung factories. That said, there may be some electromagnetic radiation in the work site that could create a hazard for workers, but this needs to be confirmed by professionals with proper equipment. On the Samsung SLR camera assembly line as an example, there are 12 workers in each production line, and they can produce 180 to 240 SLR cameras every eight hours. There are
five production lines in the workshop; therefore, there are about 900 to 1200 SLR cameras produced here every day during an 8-hour period. Based on an analysis of product warehouse schedules and logistics, the total number of finished display products coming out of this factory every day is about 18,000 to 25,000.
Part 8: Other Issues
According to the rules and regulations set out by the factory, every worker is allowed 8 days of sick leave, during which period they can receive 80% of their original salary. But sick leave is only permitted after workers provide written proof by a hospital which shows that the sickness is rated at least at the Third Level Grade A. If a worker doesn’t provide this evidence, then the leave will be regarded as an absence, and the worker will lose their bonus. Getting approval for leave for other reasons is even more difficult. To do this, workers must go to the HR department to pick up a form, fill out the form, get approval from both managers and team leaders, and then take it back to the HR department. If they do not complete this process, then their leave would be regarded as an absence. The factory requires that workers cannot be absence for longer than a total of three days per year; otherwise the workers will be fired with their remaining wages.
Due to production needs, working being faces with periods of work longer than 8 hours is unavoidable., If workers don’t work overtime, then they will be given an absent day, and they will be punished as mentioned above. Some workers expressed that workers who keep a good private relationship with the team leaders can occasionally get off of overtime. However, in general, overtime is not an option for workers. Workers who were interviewed are not clear above rules related to other types of leave required by laws, such as marriage leave, maternity leave, or family leave.
The investigators interviewed more than 20 workers, and none of them expressed having ever experienced a social responsibility audit or review of the factory.. There is no union or similar worker organization in the factory, leaving workers with a lack of an effective channel by which to communicate or make complaints.
Part 9: Summary of problems
1. There exist both serious gender and age discrimination. 2. The factory abuses the dispatch workers and student workers.
3. The factory hires illegal dispatch workers who neither given a contract with the factory nor paid the minimum wage. 4. Workers doing the same job don't receive the same compensation. 5. The factory recruits workers via illegal employment Agencies, which also increases the cost to workers in finding a job. 6. The factory charges workers security deposit and detains their identity cards. 7. Long work hours. 8. Forced overtime. 9. Insulting and beating up of workers. 10. There are no effective complaint mechanisms for workers.
The investigation Report of the Labor Condition at Shandong Samsung Digital Printer Co., Ltd.
Part 1: the Factory's Profile Samsung Electronics (Shandong) Digital Printer Co., Ltd (SSDP for short), was formerly Shandong Samsung Telecommunication Appliance Co., Ltd. It was established in March 1993, with an investment of 39.8 million dollars. It was invested by Samsung Co., Ltd. this factory is a high-tech enterprise engaged in the research, development, production and sales of the digital printer products, a main producing base of Samsung electronics printer products. SSDP locates at Shandong Weihai Torch High-Tech Industrial Development Zone, with more than 2,000 employees. Its main products are laser printers and laser-ink printers. The yearly production is 10 million. In 2011, it produced and sold 7.81 million printers, with sales revenue of 9.1 billion RMB ($1.42 billion). (All the information was excerpted from Samsung official website 2011 Social Environmental Report).
Part 2: Hiring Currently, there are around 2,000 workers in the factory, which matches the officially released total number of workers. The ratio between male and female is 3:2. The factory hasn't conducted direct-hire for a couple of years, and it mostly depends on the interns and the graduates the designated schools recommended, which has constituted more than 60% of the workforce. For interns, they may usually spend two months to even one year in the factory, and they can return to the schools after they complete the internship.
Part 3: Working Hours There are day-shift, night-shift and three-shift provided by the factory, and the workers in the department of production which has most population mainly take night-shift. The dayshift starts at 8:00am and ends at 5:00pm, and during the shift, workers can have one hour to have their lunch from 12:00am to 1:00pm. They can also have a ten minutes’ break in both the morning and the afternoon. If the workers are required to work overtime at night, then they can have their dinner from 5:00pm to 6:00pm. These workers can finish their job at 8:00pm or before. The hours of work are the same for both day shift and night shift. The workers who take night shifts can start work at 8:00pm, and finish their work at 5:00am. During 12:00pm and 1:00am, they can have night snacks. Also, they can have a ten minutes’ break in both the evening and the morning. If they are asked to work overtime, they can have their breakfast from 5:00am to 6:00am, and the overtime work will be completed at 8:00am or before. There is no difference between peak-season and off-season. Actually, workers are required to work overtime if the production task is huge. In this circumstance, they usually need to work overtime, and work 26 days per month. In normal situations, they just work 23 days per
month, and have to work overtime for 4 days in this month. Sometimes, they can get a day off even though it is a workday. Therefore, based on our calculation, workers usually work 192 hours to 260 hours per month.
Workers need to have a meeting which starts 10 minutes before working, and then prepare for the work. All of the time spent on the meeting and the preparation cannot be calculated into the working hours. The factory takes advantage of the electronic appliance to check its workers’ working hours. Meanwhile, the workers can also use this electronic system to confirm their working hours. If they found that their working hours have been wrongly calculated, they can apply to correct it, which in most cases, will be checked and then corrected.
Part 4: Wage Rates The basic salary is around 1600 RMB, and the overtime wage is calculated based on it, multiplying the basic salary by 1.5, 2.0 and 3.0 according to different overtime hours. The workers who have worked for three months can receive a “performance bonus” per month, besides basic salary and overtime salary. However, the performance bonus cannot be regarded as the basic number for the overtime salary. There are five levels for the performance evaluation, including A+, A, B+, B and B- . For each level, workers can receive 1,000 RMB, 600 RMB, 300 RMB, 0 RMB and -300 RMB respectively. According to the
interviewed workers, the monitors are in total charge of the evaluation process, therefore the influential factors include the amount of work workers have done, workers' willingness to obey the rules, their ability and performance, and their private relationship with the monitors. The workers who receive a B constitute 60% of the total workforce, and B means that workers cannot receive the performance bonus, including the workers who work less than three months. Around 30% workers can get a B+, which means they can receive 300 RMB as the performance bonus. The performance evaluation is conducted every month, and the evaluation is just effective for that month. For instance, if a worker got a B+ in the last month, then he could receive 300 RMB for that evaluation. And he got a B in this month, then he received nothing until he can get a better evaluation in the next month. For workers who take night shifts, they can get a compensation which is worth 10 RMB. In every month, one worker in each production line will be recommended as the best worker, and receive a bonus which could be a gift worth 100 RMB or 100 RMB's currency. on 18th, the factory will distribute workers' salary into their bank account. Although there is not a copy of the bill available, the workers can check the detailed calculation of their salary through the inner computer system.
Part 5: Living Conditions and Dining There are dining halls in the factory, and they provide breakfast, lunch, dinner and night snacks for workers. However, workers can only have two free meals per day, the workers taking day shifts can have free lunch and dinner, and the workers taking night shifts can have free dinner and breakfast. Workers need to pay for themselves if they eat in the dining halls when they don't work in that period. For instance, workers taking day shits need to pay for dinner, and workers taking night shifts need to pay for lunch. The breakfast costs 5 RMB, all of lunch, dinner and night snacks cost 6.5 RMB. Workers can have milk, eggs, bread, fried bread sticks, noodle and fried rice for their breakfast, and each of them costs workers 1.8 RMB, 0.8 RMB, 1 RMB, 1 RMB and 2.4 RMB. Workers can choose and make a combination by themselves, but the maximum amount of the breakfast is 5 RMB. If the workers pay for themselves, they are required to pay 5 RMB even though the breakfast costs less than 5 RMB. Potato, pork, chicken, duck, fish, shrimp, rice and steamed bread will be provided for lunch, dinner and night snack. Workers can have three main dishes and a cold dish for each meal, and the cold dish is only available for self-service. Workers can have fruits every other day. Workers can also have Korean dishes, but they need to apply for it as a unit a week before, or they will be charged as the standard mentioned before.
The dining halls are equipped with air conditioners, and the dining tables will be cleaned on time. However, according to the workers who take night shifts, because there are not enough workers working in the dining halls at night, they need to wait for 10 minutes before they get their meals. The factory provides dormitories for its workers, one for the male workers, and the other for the female workers. The dormitories are equipped with bathrooms, water heaters, electronic fans, heaters, shelves and other cleaning appliances. Each worker is provided with a cabinet. There are three bunk beds in each room, and there are six people living inside. In each level, there are wash machines and fountains provided for free. There are 12 computers in the first level of the male's dormitory, and every one can use it for two hours. However, according to workers, only half of the computers can be used, and few people use it. There are television room, pingpong rooms and gyms in the female's dormitory, and the male workers can use their work certificate to enter the female's dormitory. The workers need to pay for water and electricity by themselves, and it usually costs a worker 20 RMB per month. However, the factory will compensate every worker 10 RMB per month, and thus they just need to pay 10 RMB by themselves per month.
Part 6: Working Conditions The main production departments are located in a three-level building. The first level is for the production of copy machines, and most of workers working there are male because the work is really intense. And both of the second and the third levels are for the production of Xigu, and most of the workers working here are female workers. All of the workers are required to working standing up. According to some workers, actually workers can apply for sitting for a while based on their need. However, it hasn't been decided yet, and whether this practice can be proved mainly depends on the new practice's effect on working efficiency. According to a female worker, she needs set up more than 10 toothed gears every time, so she's got more work to do because she doesn't put the gears into the right place quickly. During the two months she's worked in the factory, she doesn't have time to drink except for the break because of the intense work, and the monitors do not find someone to assist her. The workers are not allowed to bring their tumblers into the factory, and the tumblers will be provided by the factory. However, new workers cannot receive it until they've worked for more than a month. Based on what she said, she brought a tumbler to the factory, but it was thrown away quickly. Some interviewed workers said, they just need to inform the monitors if they need to have a drink or go to the bathroom. In most cases, they will be allowed to do this. Whether their petition will be approved or not is closely related to the mood of the monitors.
there are around 23 workers working in the production line of Xigu, including a monitor, a mechanician and a material-man. In 10 hours, they can produce around 1,600 large-size Xigu, or around 2,500 small-size Xigu. The factory is in charge of the assembly of printers and Xigu, so it is not very dangerous to do this job. However, according to many interns, the floor is covered with carbon powder in the production site, and they were told that it's toxic during the orientation training. Although they are provided with masks and gloves, they don't think it is a effective way to protect themselves. And the factory will provide mask and gloves for workers working in some specific position, and these workers will be asked to have a physical exam per year. Part 7: Others Most workers are not sure about that whether there is a union in the factory, and few workers admit that they've heard that there is a union in the factory, but they haven't heard further information about the union. The unofficially employed workers have no social insurance, and they can receive the insurance only if they are officially employed. Based on the interviewed senior workers, they need to pay around 200 RMB for their social insurance, but they are not sure that which aspects are covered. Workers will get a B for that month if they are late for more than 5 minutes, and getting a B means that they won't receive any performance bonus. In other worlds, compared with B+, they need to pay 300 RMB for being late. The salaries the workers get will be deducted by 200 RMB if they have an absence. No matter how many absences the workers have, they will only be deducted by 200 RMB. In this situation, they will get a B- for the evaluation, which means they will be deducted by another 500 RMB, and they cannot receive the wage for the day they are absent. If the workers have three absences in a month, they will be forced to leave the factory after proceeding all the relative formalities. In some cases, the workers can have some days off except for weekends and holidays because the factory have to adapt to the changing production plan. If the workers have a half day off, they can receive half of a day's salary. If the workers have more than one day off, then they can receive only half of the total salary, because less than a day's break cannot
be regarded as break.
Investigative Report on Labor Practices at SSEC
Suzhou Samsung Electronics Co, Ltd (hereinafter refer red to as “SSEC”) is a joint-venture approved by Suzhou industrial parks district on April 4, 1995. It is also Samsung Electronic’s larg est major overseas electronics production base. In 2002, the company invested 199 million dollars to es tablish the Suhong Road factor y in this industrial park. The factor y is located on 501 East Suhong Road in this industrial park, and it occupies an area of 170 thousand square meters. The company primarily designs, produces, and sells refrig erators, washing machines, air conditioners, compression engines, small home appliances, and other relevant components and parts. The company expor ts its line of refrig erators, air conditioners, and washing machines to more than 60 countries and regions around the world, including America, Europe, Africa, Japan and Australia.
The factory has quality, air conditioning, compression engine, refrig erator, washing machine, and research & development departments. T here are cur rently about 4000 employees in the factor y, the mal e workers accounting for 80 percent.
The factory doesn't conduct direct recruitment of workers, recruiting its workers, instead, primarily mainly from Suzhou Bolger Human Resource Co., Ltd and Suzhou Humanpool Human Resources Co., Ltd, two labor dispatch companies. In general, workers enter into dispatch companies through employment agencies, and the agency fee ranges from 100 to 500 RMB ($15.6- 78.1). Workers need to pay about 100 RMB ($15.6) for a physical examination before entering into a position at SSEC. The factory will refuse to admit those employees carrying contagious diseases, such as hepatitis B. The author has contacted a number of local
employment agencies and labor dispatch companies, and they all expressed that Samsung won’t give offers to these workers.
The labor dispatch companies sign labor contracts with workers. If these workers later become formal Samsung employees, the contracts they signed with dispatch companies will automatically terminate. According to workers, dispatch workers can usually convert into formal Samsung employees within a half year or one year. Beginning this year, this conversion period will only take three months. The author also discovered through the investigation that several dispatch workers working for more than one year still keep their original work IDs. They don’t think that becoming a formal employee is important because there are very few differences between dispatch and formal workers in terms of salary.
Employees must conduct one-week of orientation and training before starting work. This training includes a company introduction, business culture, rules and regulations, and occupational safety, with the latter accounting for about 15 percent of the content. According to interviewed workers, what they learned about occupational safety during the orientation does in fact help in daily work once they began working, and what they learn is sufficient for the needs of the production safety. Employees were given normal wages during their training period. After converting into formal workers, Samsung will usually sign three-year contracts with these workers that include no probation period. The content of the contract includes work location, salary, labor protection, confidentiality clauses, liability for contract breaches, and other rights and obligations of both parties.
The factory will provide uniforms and other protective gear for workers without charge after they begin working. Workers don’t need to pay any other fees related to the hiring process to the factory or dispatch company.
Part 3: Working Hours
The factory maintains a day-night shift system; the following shows the detailed work hours: Day shift Time 08:30—10:00 10:00—10:10 10:10—11:30 11:30—12:30 Content work work work lunch Night shift Remarks Time 20:30—22:00 22:00—22:10 22:10—23:30 23:30—00:30 Content work work work Normal work period Break time Normal work period
Midnight meal carried out in groups; the total time is one hour work work work Normal work period Break time If there is no overtime, workers clock out at this time
12:30—15:00 15:00—15:10 15:10—17:30
00:30—03:00 03:00—03:10 03:10—05:30
05:30—06:00
Breakfast. This meal only occurs when workers need to work overtime
Overtime extended work hours
The day shift and night shift switch every two weeks. The factory has always technically had rules that restrict overtime hours, but these have neither been carried out nor enforced by the factory. In the first six months of the year, the overtime hours for many production line workers are over 100 hours per month. This means that within this period, the maximum number of days off a worker could have is three days. Workers are not entitled to the weekly day off. But in the second half of the year, the factory says that it will more rigorously enforce restricted overtime hours, which are restricted to be below 36 hours per month. However, this provision is still not really enforced. Many workers still have to work more than 36 hours of overtime. On average, the overtime hours are around 60 hours per
worker per month. But because the factory has rules that restrict hours above 36, any hours that exceed 36 hours do not count as overtime. Rather, workers are given extra vacation time for their overtime.
Part 4: Salary and Benefits
After the salary readjustment in July, the base salary for new workers is 2150 RMB ($332). After three months of work, there will be a 10 percent increase in salary, resulting in a monthly base salary of 2365 RMB ($369.5). But the base salary for the past workers was 2300 RMB ($359.7) and 2530 RMB ($395.3), respectively.
After a worker has completed three months of work, supervisors will perform a monthly evaluation to assess every the worker performance. Performance-based wages are then given based on the performance level of each worker after evaluation. For every year that a worker spent working in the company, there is a 10 RMB ($1.56) per month of seniority pay added on. Below is a chart that shows how performance-based wages are calculated.
5% The percentage of workers that achieve a given performance level
※Remark：Level D is for disastrous mistakes, often resulted in dismissal of the worker. This type of situation rarely happens. For example, if a worker was employed in May 2011 and received a B+ level, then his overtime base value would be 2530 RMB ($395.3) + 10 RMB ($1.6) + 253 RMB ($39.5), or 2793 RMB ($436.4). Based on an average working time of 174 hours per month, this worker's hourly base wage would be 16 RMB ($2.5). Consequently, the worker's overtime wages would be 24 RMB ($3.75), 32, RMB ($5), and 48 RMB ($7.5), dependent on the period in which the worker does overtime. This example expresses the ability of overtime calculations, working age, and performance level to directly and significantly affect different workers' wages. Other than the items described above, the workers have some other sources of income, including a night shift allowance of 18 RMB ($2.81) per person per night. Additionally, around 10% of the workers have a position allowance of 50 RMB (8.13) to 200RMB ($31.3). But these two items are not calculated into the overtime base value. At the same time, team leaders and other managers receive an allowance that amount to around 800 RMB ($125),
and this amount is calculated into their overtime base value. But managers make up a very small proportion of the total worker population, so this report will not get into details about them. The average salary for workers of three months is around 3500 RMB ($546.9), not including the 19% social security fee that is deducted from wages. As for the workers of less than three months have an average salary of around 2800 RMB ($437.5). Similarly, this does not include social security deductions.
Wages are issued into workers' bank accounts every month. This salary distribution includes the basic salary and the overtime pay from the 16th of the previous month to the 15th of the given month. Pay day for formal contracted workers is the 20th of every month. And the pay day for dispatch workers is the 28th of every month. For example, on July 28th, a dispatch worker will receive his basic salary for July and overtime pay for the period from June 16th to July 15th. On the other hand, a formal contracted worker will receive his wages on the 20th. When the factory issues wages, it does not provide a copy of a the pay stub to workers. The workers can only find out about the details of their wages by using the computers provided by the factory. If there are any mistakes, the workers can talk to the foreman. Usually the mistakes will be fixed after verification.
Part 5: Living conditions There is a communal cafeteria in the factory. If the workers do not have overtime hours, then the factory will only provide one free meal. For example, if a worker is working the day shift, then lunch will be free of charge for him. If he doesn’t have to work overtime and gets off at 5:30 PM, he is not entitled to free dinner, and there would be a 7.5 RMB ($1.17) charge for the meal. Conversely, night shift workers are subject to the same rules. Every meal consists of four dishes and one soup, including one meat dish. There is also one serving of fruit for both lunch and dinner. The canteen usually has eight serving windows open, so problems with overcrowding or long wait times are rare. There are also essential facilities installed in the factory cafeteria, such as air conditioners, televisions, and shops. The cafeteria is sanitary. However, our meal survey indicates that many workers are not satisfied with the food. 31 out of the 34 people we survived answered that they were not pleased with the meal. Their main reaction we received was that the food simply tasted bad. Some workers contributed this problem to the fact that cafeteria food is contracted to another company.
The factory does not provide any form of living accommodations to workers, and workers must deal with it themselves. Usually, workers rent a room near the factory and the factory will provide free transportation to and from the factory for the workers. Within a 40
kilometer radius of the factory, the rent for a 12 square meter room is around 300 RMB ($46.9) to 650 RMB ($101.6), depending on the exact location and the facility. For example, a 14 m2 with a kitchen and bathroom within a 5 minute walking distance of the grocery and shopping district will cost around 500 RMB ($78.1). Of course, if renting a one storey house or shared room, the cost will be cheaper. The factory provides no allowances for accommodation other than the free transportation.
Part 6: Working Environment All production line workers in the factory work under a high intensity conditions which can be understood in two primary respects.
First, the rate of work is very high. For example, on the production line for the indoor machine of a split air conditioning unit, the output is 4000 units every 10 hours. This means that the production time for one indoor machine is about 9 seconds. This calculation even includes the 10-minutes breaks on each shift. For instance, in 9 seconds, workers responsible for installing the panels must assemble a nearly meter-long panel as well as install two screws. However, the entire process must be finished in ten hours minus the meal time, and workers don’t receive any break time outside of their 20 minutes of total rest time. If a worker takes time to drink water or go to the restroom, this worker cannot hope to finish his work in the allotted time.
Second, almost all workers on the production lines must work standing. The factory only provides seats in the leisure room, and workers can sit during either of the ten-minute break periods in each shift. Work intensity of such a high degree forces Samsung to employ large numbers of male workers despite the fact that the factory originally only preferred female workers.
Besides taking on the burden of such intense work, workers are also forced to suffer deafening noises in the workshop. The production model of Samsung includes the manufacturers being responsible for the production of parts, while Samsung themselves are responsible for assembly. Thus, SSEC has few potential safety hazards, such as toxic substances or injury from machinery. However, due to the relatively large surface areas of home appliances, machinery related to the assembly process will produce a great deal of noise. According to workers, although the factory has issued the necessary protective gear— such as earplugs—workers believe that it does not really protect their hearing. The negative influence on workers' hearing is accumulated gradually, so workers don’t pay enough attention to this issue or lack the relevant occupational safety awareness.
Part 8: Other Issues According to the workers interviewed, representatives from the Samsung headquarters often visits production lines and asks workers some questions. However, these questions are always related to corporate interests, such as information safety or bribery, and they never
obtain the feedback of or suggestions from workers. A general manager suggestion box has been installed in the cafeteria, but workers do not believe that this method can effectively express their voice and opinion. No worker involved in the investigation expressed that the factory had a labor union. And the author also found no information regarding a labor union during visits to the factory.
The factory has a strict ranked system for all employees. Employees are divided into the P system (for manufacturing) and the T system (for technology). Each system has four levels—P1 to P4 and T1 to T4. Each level has three grades— A, B, and C. Of course, one's rank will determine his authority, benefits, and other related factors.
Investigative report on labor practices at Intops (Tianjin) Electronics Co., Ltd.
I. Basic characteristics of factory
Intops (Tianjin) Electronics Co., Ltd. (hereinafter “Intops”), was founded and registered with the Tianjin Administration of Industry and Commerce on Nov. 9, 2001. Its registered capital is 7.5 million RMB ($1.17 milion). The factory is located on 20 Huoju Road, North Zhakou Town, Jinnan District, Tianjin. Manufacturing cellphone covers for Samsung, Intops is a business partner of Tianjin Samsung Communication Co., Ltd. There are approximately 1,200 employees in the factory. About 1,000 workers work in the production department, including 500 workers in the plastic injection department, 200 workers in the painting department, and 300 workers in the assembly department. The remaining employees work in the technology and administrative departments. This report will focus on the conditions of the workers in the production department.
The factory hires workers via four methods: employment agencies, labor dispatch companies, internal referrals, and direct hiring. About 95% of the workers are hired in first two ways, including student workers. Most workers are female, constituting 80% of the workforce. If the workers are hired through employment agencies or labor dispatch companies, they usually need to pay a fee of 100 RMB ($15.6) to 400 RMB ($62.8). The human resource
department of Intops will interview all job candidates, and they usually restrict interviews to females between the ages of 18 and 30. There is no further requirement to work at Intops. If the candidate does not pass the interview, the employment agency or labor dispatching company will often return the fees. Occasionally, the factory will directly hire workers. However, it doesn’t advertise these hiring events and potential candidates must ask the factory gatekeeper. If there is a vacancy, the candidate can get an interview. The workers in the factory can also refer other workers to the factory if there is a vacancy. About 5% of the workers are hired through these two methods, and workers hired this way do not need to pay any hiring fees to the factory. Before the interview, all candidates need to undergo a health examination in a local hospital or clinic, including an electrocardiogram, urine test, blood test, X-ray, blood pressure test, and vision test. The cost is about 100 RMB ($15.6), and workers are responsible for the fee.
After being hired, the workers will be assigned to a department. Except for some unofficial operational guidance by a group leader or experienced worker, there is absolutely no training for workers, including job safety training. The workers do not receive any salary for their first day of work. According to workers, because many new workers cannot tolerate the conditions in the factory, they will leave the factory after their first day. As a result, the factory chooses not to pay the workers for their first day of work.
III. Labor Contract
After the workers are employed, the factory will sign a labor contract with them. However, at signing, the contract is incomplete and workers don’t receive a copy. Many workers thought that they signed a contract with Intops and were hired by Intops. But some workers, when checking the status of their social insurance with social security administration, will find that the labor dispatch company, rather than Intops, handles social insurance for the workers. Most workers never check their social insurance status, including both ordinary workers and engineers, will never know whether or not they are directly hired by Intops or hired by a labor dispatch company. The workers are not only unable to confirm their employer, they can’t even confirm, based on a contract, their salary, position, and length of their employment, all of which are contained in the contract and of great significance to the interest of workers.
IV. Working hours
The production department’s work schedule is split into two shifts: a night and day shift. The shifts change at 8am and 8pm, respectively. The workers will switch between day and night shifts every 15 days. Below is detailed information about every shift:
Day shift Time 08:00—10:00 Activit y Work
Night shift Time 20:30— 22:00 Activit y Work
10:00—10:10 10:10—11:30
22:00— 22:10 22:10— 23:30 23:30— 00:30 00:30— 03:00 04:00— 04:10 04:10— 07:30 07:30— 08:00 08:00~
Break Work Night meal Work Break Work
Break during work hours Normal working hours Broken up into groups, the lunch time is one hour Normal working hours Break during work hours Can leave factory after this shift if there is no overtime Only for the workers working overtime Overtime hours
12:30—15:00 15:00—15:10 15:10—19:00
Work Break Work
19:00—20:00 Dinner 20:00~ Overti me
Breakf ast Overti me
The information expressed above is the normal working hours for workers. Typical overtime after 8am or 8pm lasts two hours. Workers usually work 6 days a week. Work on Sunday and extra overtime depends on the number of orders. June and July are considered the low season, and during this period, workers changed shifts at 8am and 8pm, respectively. During this period, the workers worked 27 days a month and had monthly overtime of about 100 hours. The period from March to May is considered the high season, and during this period, the monthly overtime will be about 150 hours, including Sunday and extra overtime. For example, during this peak season, one shift will start at 13:00 and end at 8:00 the next morning. Workers in the technical department will have even longer working hours. They might work from 8:00 on day one to 20:00 on the evening of day two. They would, however, still be permitted meal breaks and short work breaks during these working hours.
Although the day shift starts at 8am, the workers need to check in before 7:30am. 7:30 to 7:40 is the morning exercise time, which is directed by team leaders. After the morning exercise is a group meeting and work preparation. Usually, there are several workers in every group who need not do the morning exercise. However, regardless of when workers must get to the workplace, wage calculations do not start until 8am.
Those at the front of the assembly line or others whose work is to add raw materials are not given a one-hour meal break. Usually, these types of workers need to start preparing 20 to 30 minutes before the official work period begins, but these extra hours are not included in the wages.
V. Salary and Benefits
The salary of workers is composed of a base salary and overtime wages. The base salary is 1310 RMB ($206), and the overtime wage is 150%, 200% or 300% of the base salary, dependent on the nature of the overtime hours. If a worker takes no leave or has no absences during a given month, he or she can get a 50 RMB ($8) full attendance bonus. Workers who stand while working can get 50 RMB ($8) standing allowance every month. Workers on the night shift can get a 12 RMB ($1.8) per night shift allowance. There are hardship allowances during summer and winter seasons for heat and cold, which is 100 RMB ($16) for three months of time. All workers have occupational injury insurance, pension insurance, and medical insurance. The premium every month for these insurance is 160 RMB ($25). Some workers
said that although they pay the premium every month, they have never received an insurance card and cannot enjoy the benefits of their insurance. Wages are calculated from the 26th of every month to the 25th of the second month. Wages are issued on the 15th of every month. For instance, on August 15 the workers will receive their wages for work between June 26 and July 25. The workers will receive a pay stub. The stub includes items like working hours, overtime, allowances, social security deductions, and total salary. The record on the statement is consistent with actual numbers. If there is any error, the workers can ask their team leader to correct the data; in such situations, the error will usually be approved.
VI. Food and accommodation
There is a cafeteria in the factory that provides three free meals to workers without any restriction. Lunch, dinner, and night meals include one meat dish, one vegetable dish, and one cold dish. The workers can take as much rice and soup as they want. According to the investigator’s personal experience and interviews with workers, the environment and
equipment in the cafeteria is good. However, workers are very unsatisfied with the ingredients, quality, cooking style, and distribution process of the food.
There will sometimes be sand or other foreign items in the rice. Almost all ingredients are cheap ones like potatoes. Meat only constitutes a small portion of the meat dish. For example, in the pan-fried pork with potatoes, the ratio between potato and meat is about 5:1. Although the workers can request more food, there is still very little meat. Additionally, workers have expressed that where a dish should be pan-fried, the cook boils it. And where the dish should be should be boiled, the cook stews it. As a result, the dishes are quite unappetizing. Additionally, for every type of dish, only one dish is provided for every meal, and for a starch, workers can only choose from rice, steamed ban, and noodles. There are only two windows open in the cafeteria. Other than the first group of workers taking a meal, it will take a worker 15 minutes on average to get his or her meal. The longest waiting time is 22 minutes. The workers going to the cafeteria late will only get cold food, sometimes even no food at all. During the dining time, the tables are not usually cleaned in time, causing the entire cafeteria to look messy. One worker who has worked in the factory for more than a month told us that she only eaten in the cafeteria no more than 10 times because she doesn’t want to wait such a long time for her food and the food is no good. Instead, she usually secretly brings food into the workshop and eats it there.
The factory only provides dormitories for female workers and the rent is 70 RMB ($11) per month. There are no recreational facilities in the dormitories. There is only a personal storage closet for each person, a fan, and a radiator in each room. There is public restroom
and shower room on every floor and 24-hour hot water. There are typically four to six workers living in one room.
Many workers in the factory have to work standing. The percentage varies among different departments. For example, 30% of positions in the plastic injection department require standing while 80% of positions in the assembly department require standing. According to some technicians responsible for the design of the production process, there is no technical reason that workers must stand as opposed to sitting. However, the factory may believe that standing is more efficient.
The factory floor managers are very crude. In the workshop, one can hear the team leader scolding the workers from time to time. However, according to the workers, the managers just scold and shout at the workers loudly; there is no usually verbal abuse or other insulting language.
Workers are prohibited from wearing shoes on all factory floors. Only socks or sock covers are allowed. The regulation is enforced regardless of season and shift. Even female workers during their menstrual period have to obey the rule. According to the workers, there is AC in the workshop, and the workers feel cold standing on the floor, even during the summer. One technician in the factory said that such a regulation is unnecessary from a production and technical perspective. He could not understand what the significance of the regulation is.
The primary occupational hazards in the factory are chemical and mechanical injuries. For example, in the plastic injection department, the workers need to frequently change the mold in plastic injection machine. Because the molds are metallic and weigh hundreds of pounds, workers will sometimes be injured in the moving or installation process. However, serious injuries are very rare. In the painting department, the workers are exposed to large amounts of chemicals like paint and paint dusts. But workers directly spraying the paint will receive protective masks. And due to a lack of safety training and disclosure, the workers often do not pay enough attention to the hazards and do not wear the masks. Workers in the screen-printing department need to use ink in an open space, and the fumes released by ink is an irritant. However, such workers do not receive any any protective gear. In the assembly, there is a pressing machine which requires workers to put products in the machine by hand, close the curtain and press the button. However, the machine is operated by one hand, which can cause an accident if the workers press the button accidentally while the other hand is still in the pressing area. According to workers, such accident happens from time to time, but most of the time, the injury is not severe. The intensity of work is very high in the Intops factory. The word “labor intensity” does not mean the workers need to lift a heavy load, rather meaning that they must work for long hours and produce at an extremely fast pace. We introduced the long working hours in part IV of the report. As for the pace of work, we can take the assembly department as an example. The assembly line assembles cell phone covers for the model 9300 cell phones. There are about 25 workers working on this line, and they need to assemble 600 cell phones every hour, which means one case every 6 seconds. The actual time, however, is 5 seconds or less after deducting time for restroom breaks, drinking water, or interruptions in the assembly process.
The security guards of the factory are cruel. When workers are coming and going to and from work, guards often require them to undergo a security examination. Besides using detective equipment, they sometimes require a body search. One worker interviewed told us that once the detective equipment alarm went off when he was leaving the factory and the security guard immediately began searching his body without letting him do a self-check. Other workers have said that similar incidents occur often at the security check point.
Leave. If a worker cannot work, regardless of the reason, he or she needs to file a written application for a leave. Otherwise, it will be treated as an absence and the factory will deduct three-day wages from his or her salary. And absence for three days will be treated as selfresignation. According to the rules, if a worker is sick in the night after work, she has to go to the factory to apply for sick leave before she can go to the hospital. If the condition is serious, the worker needs to stay in the hospital, and she cannot apply for a leave in three days, he or she will be effectively fired. During an interview, one worker joked that everyone working in Intops needs to have the ability to predict when she will be ill and apply for a leave in advance. Otherwise, she will either not be able to get treatment or face a serious penalty, even so far as losing her job. Given the difficulty of taking sick leave, personal leave is near impossible. Absence. Because it is very difficult to get a leave from the factory, most workers will choose absence. Given that the base salary is 1310 RMB ($206), the daily salary is approximately 60 ($9). As we mentioned above, the factory will deduct three days of wages
for every one day of absence, equal to RMB 180 ($28). If one adds in the wages for the day of absence and the attendance bonus, the total deduction should be 290 RMB ($46). However, five workers who have had experience with absences expressed that 300 RMB ($47) to 680 RMB ($107) was deducted for a one-day absence. None of them were clear on the standard or regulation used to calculate the deduction. Leaving the factory. According to the regulations of the factory, if a worker wants to quit her job, she needs to file an application a week, half month, or even a month in advance. However, it is very hard to get such an approval. Because the workers sign an incomplete labor contract, there is no language related to resignation during a probationary period. Most work will thus just choose self-resignation. If a worker does resign, the factory will deposit all remaining wages into the worker’s bank account on the 15th of the month. If a worker quits her job after the 25th of a given month, the factory will deposit the salary to her bank account on the 15th of the next month. If a worker quits her job before the 25th of a month, she needs to bring their ID to her department between the 25th of the next month and the 10th of the month following that to get a pay stub . Only then can she receive her wages from the financial department in the form of cash. If the worker has already left Tianjin or it is not able to go to the factory herself, she can authorize another worker to get the salary on her behalf. This person must bring both an authorization document and the ID of the worker in question.
Investigative Report on Tianjin Chaarmtech (Crucial) Electronic Co., Ltd.
I. Basic characteristics of factory Tianjin Chaarmtech Electronic Co., Ltd is located at 17 Xeda Shiji Road, Xiqing Economic Development Area, Tianjin. It is foreign owned by a South Korean company, producing mobile phone covers and other phone parts for Samsung. It produces no other commercial products. Chaarmtech has already removed its registration with the administration for industrial and commercial. According to someone at a labor dispatch company, the Chaarmtech's entire factory has been transferred to another company in recent months. Despite this, there has been no change in workers, production equipment, or and management.
There are now around 900 workers in this factory, 15% of whom are male workers. All the workers come from employment agencies or labor dispatch companies; workers must pay 200 RMB ($31.25) to 500 RMB ($78.12) in introduction and administration fees to these companies in order to get hired. The factory does not openly recruit production line workers.
The factory restricts workers' ages to between 18 and 26 years old. Apart from some special positions, all positions are only filled by female workers. Male workers primarily work in storage or moving positions. No limitations are put on workers based on their household registration or education.
As all the workers are dispatched workers, the factory does not sign any labor contract with them. However, most of the labor dispatch companies never sign such documents with the workers, either. And even those labor dispatch companies that did sign labor contracts with the workers only had workers to sign a contract in which items were left blank. The dispatch company then took the contract without giving a copy to the worker. Before being employed, workers get a health check for which they must pay themselves. This fee is around 60 MRB ($9.38). Some workers reported that they paid the health check fee to the dispatch company, but the company never arranged for any health check appointment even after the workers had officially started working in the factory—and the fee was not refunded. There is absolutely no job safety training given to workers. Instead, new workers just receive some operational guidance on the factory floor from experienced workers or team leaders after they started working.
There are two shifts every day in the factory: a day and a night shift. These shifts are changed at 8 am and 8 pm, respectively, so workers usually have an 11-hour day. But workers also expressed that they sometimes have to work overtime until 10 (regardless of the shift). In such cases, some workers on the day shift who get off work later than 10pm are very concerned about their safety. The factory will sometimes arrange vehicles to send workers home.
The workers are not guaranteed to have at least one day off every week. Usually, they can get one day off every two weeks—i.e., they must work 28 days a month with around 120 hours or more of overtime. Overtime is mandatory for workers. If there is any personal reason to refrain from working overtime, the worker must to ask for leave from the team leader; if not, this worker will get scolded or even considered absent from work.
The base salary of production line workers just meet the minimum wage standard of Tianjin—1310 RMB ($204.7) per month. Overtime pay is calculated as a percentage of the base salary at 150%, 200%, and 300%, depending on the time that a worker works overtime. Apart from the base and overtime wages, the factory offers 10 RMB ($1.56) each day for
those on the night shift as a subsidy. After calculating for all wages, the average monthly income for workers is around 3300 RMB ($515.6). As the workers come from different labor dispatch companies, the payment schedule for each worker is different. In most cases, the workers will get paid around the 20th of the month. However, workers receive absolutely no pay stubs or a record of wage calculations.
IV. Food and accommodation
The factory offers two free meals per day to workers. The workers who were interviewed were content with the food. However, because of the time limitations, investigators were unable to obtain more information on cafeteria-related issues. The factory only offers dormitory for female workers, who must pay 105 RMB ($16.4) upon moving in. In addition, there is monthly rent of 50 RMB ($7.81), including water and electricity. Each room can hold 6 to 8 workers.
More than 80% of positions in the factory require workers to work while standing at all times.
The main problems existing in this factory include: 1. Employment discrimination, especially in regards to age and gender limitations; 2. Exploitation of dispatch labor and the slack regulation of labor dispatch companies which has led to an increase in workers’ employment costs and a failure to protect their rights; 3. No labor contract. The factory doesn't sign contract with the workers. And labor dispatch companies only sign incomplete contracts with workers, if they even sign a contract at all; 4. A lack of necessary training before employment, such as job safety and skills training; 5. Excessive overtime hours. Workers have overtime hour that surpass 120 hours per month, not even being guaranteed a day of rest each week; 6. Forced labor. Workers have no choice but to accept overtime arrangements or else they will be punished; 7. Excessively low wages. 1310 RMB ($204.7), the minimum wage in Tianjin, is the base salary for workers in the factory. However, workers at factories directly owned by Samsung receive a base salary of 1800 RMB ($281.3) or more despite also making products for Samsung; 8. Harsh working environment. Without a technical necessity to do so, workers must always stand while working, which increases the intensity of their work for no apparent reason; 9. The company has deregistered, and many issues related to workers' rights, such as working years, social insurance, and annual leave, have been left unattended.
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