Samsung excuses for death and illness

Seoul – After cancer and deaths among hundreds of workers at its chip factories and screens, tech giant Samsung has officially apologized. According to South Korean TV channels, company chairman Kim Ki Nam on Friday expressed regret over not having "taken sufficient steps to address the potential health risks of chip and battery lines. LCD screens ". "We sincerely apologize to those who have suffered from the disease and their families." Samsung has accepted a regulation on the compensation of pain and suffering.

Years of conflict

The market leader in memory chips, smartphones and televisions has had a one – year conflict with representatives of the victim families. Both parties agreed this month to follow the decisions of a conciliation committee and settle the dispute. Samsung has agreed to pay compensation up to € 116,000 (150 million won) to current and former employees over the next ten years if their disease could be attributed to the handling of chemicals at the workplace. job.

The regulation applies to anyone who has worked since May 1984 in semiconductor and liquid crystal systems. Samsung had been around once before in May
Has apologized in 2014 to employees and their families suffering from leukemia or other cancers, but also pointed out that the Group had not recognized any link.

118 dead

The Health and Human Rights Support Group in the Semiconductor Industry (SHARPS) has identified 320 occupational diseases among workers at Samsung factories
(As of June 2018). 118 of the victims have died. Figures have not been confirmed by Samsung. The group also wants to create a fund with a volume of nearly 39 million euros for occupational safety and health.

The scandal goes back to 2007, after the death of a worker at Samsung as a result of leukemia. His father, Hwang Sang Gi, has since worked for the affected workers and their families. He will accept Samsung's apology, Hwang told television on Friday. "Compensation is important, but prevention is more important." The Hwang Group, among others, is asking Samsung to disclose which chemicals are used in the production process.