Samsung Elec pays out compensation for sickened factory workers

South Korea’s Samsung Electronics Co. said on Wednesday that it has paid 30 among its former workers in compensations for their claimed sickness from working in the company’s production lines. The world’s largest memory chipmaker has been receiving applicants for compensation claims since last month and the number of recipients could top 50 by the end of this month.

The iconic smartphone producer has faced legal challenges from workers sickened - some fatally - from working in the so-called clean rooms, manufacturing facilities for LCD displays and semiconductor fabrication that raise exposures to hazardous chemicals in enclosed environment since eight years ago. Samsung claimed it kept to strict safety regulations and the workers received setback in their legal claims because the Korean state authority denied compensation claims citing ambiguity in the connection to their illnesses to working environment. Standing at the forefront in challenging the electronics juggernaut has been an organization called SHARPS, Supporters for Health and Rights of People in the Semiconductor Industry. Some of the members also were included in the recent compensation payouts. A total of 90 including former workers in outsourced production lines have applied for damages. Samsung offered to provide compensations to workers in affiliates under the same terms and guidelines for its former employees.

The payout procedures take some time for the sick and their families to prepare the documents and undergo review by independent compensation agency, said a Samsung Electronics official. He added that the company has sent out its lawyers to help the applicants in getting the papers together.

Samsung Electronics Co. employees are making rounds to the former workers eligible for compensation with written apology from CEO Kwon Oh-hyun. Samsung has been receiving applications since Sept. 18 from those who had developed illnesses such as leukemia from working in semiconductor and LCD plants. Details on compensation can be checked at compensation website (www.healthytomorrow.co.kr), and the company’s official blog (www.samsungtomorrow.com).

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