Samsung pressed on cancers foundation

A broad group of civil society organisations from Asia, Europe, Africa, North America and South America is urging Korean electronics giant Samsung to deliver justice to those harmed by chemical exposures in its factories.

The letter to Kwon oh hyun, CEO of Samsung Electronics, says Samsung should abide by the recent recommendations of a high profile mediation committee. The committee, set up to arbitrate between the company and occupational disease victims and their families, agreed Samsung should fund an independent non-profit foundation and resolve all outstanding issues arising from the cluster of occupational diseases such as leukaemia and lymphoma among Samsung workers.

Signatories to the letter to Samsung include the global union IndustriALL, campaign groups the International Campaign for Responsible Technology and Good Electronics, labour rights organisation the Asia Monitor Resource Centre and acclaimed academic Noam Chomsky.

The letter states: “The key to assuring effective prevention strategies in the future is through the proposed foundation, made up of a wide range of independent experts who can help you become a respected leader in occupational and environmental health, matching your leadership in global technology.”

It adds: “If Samsung insists on controlling all of these key decisions by yourselves, you will fail to achieve the acceptance and labour peace that you profess to desire.”

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