Samsung Sued By Brazilian Government For Poor Labor Conditions At Electronics Company’s Assembly Lines

A labor group has revealed that Samsung is being sued by the Brazilian government. Brazilian officials are seeking damages over poor working conditions at the company's assembly lines.

According to Reporter Brasil, a labor rights group, Brazil's labor ministry found "serious" labor violations at Samsung's Manaus factory where more than 5,000 workers have suffered. The group revealed the horrendous work conditions and violations of labor laws, employees were subjected to 15 hours of work per day and insufficient breaks. Samsung employees were said to work up to 27 days in a row. Reporter Brasil stated on the group's website that the lawsuit is seeking $108 million in damages.

Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 Vs. Apple iPad 4: Which Tablet Is Better Considering Size, Weight, Display, Battery, Price, Processor And Software?

According to the Ministry of Labor investigations, the workers who worked on their feet hunched over the assembly line, manufactured the electronics faster than was considered safe. According to CNET, the workers "carried out up to three times as many strokes per minute than required safety limits." Of the 5,600 Samsung employees at the Mananus plant nearly 2,018 have submitted requests to be removed for health issues, such chronic back pain, tendonitis, and bursitis.

"The company does not have the proper management for occupational health," Ministry of Labor investigator Romulo Lins said, according to Reporter Brasil. "Nor is it trying to solve the problem."

Samsung, according to Huffington Post, is the world's largest maker of smartphones, memory chips and LCD display panels. On Wednesday the electronics company said they are willing to cooperate with Brazilian authorities.

"Once we receive the complaint in question, we will conduct a thorough review and fully cooperate with the Brazilian authorities. We take great care to provide a workplace environment that assures the highest industry standards of health, safety, and welfare for our employees across the world," Samsung said in a statement.

However, this is not Samsung's first time fending off poor labor allegations. According to CNET, Samsung partnered with HEG Electronics in China, who allegedly employs children under the age of 16 and forces its factory employees to work unreasonably long hours.

"The company has clearly violated Chinese labor laws," the watchdog, China Labor Watch, told Bloomberg in an article today. "A serious light needs to be shined on these issues."

Furthermore, Samsung was prosecuted in Brazil in 2011 over poor working conditions and paid a settlement of about $200,000.

RELATED:

Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Release Date: Incomplete Leak Photos Indicate Samsung May Be Having Problems

iOS 7 Beta 6 Download Release Date: New Beta Expected By Monday August 19; Final Version Coming September 10

Samsung Galaxy S4 Active Waterproof? Why Doesn't The Warranty Cover Water Damage?