Samsung Faces $110 Million Lawsuit Over Worker Conditions in Brazil

Brazilian government carried out inspections in 2011 and this May

A suit seeking some $110 million in damages has been filed against Samsung in Brazil after two inspections of its factory in Manaus revealed widespread abuses of workers' rights. The factory makes all kinds of products, from TVs to smartphones.

The official inspections were carried out by the Ministry of Labor and Employment in May 2011 and again in May this year. They revealed a number of infractions including workers being required to spend more than 10 to 15 hours a day on foot without a break, and sometimes working up to 27 days in a row. Overly repetitive movements by workers on the construction line were said to have led to a huge number of medical complaints. Work environments were also poor, with tables at the wrong height and a shortage of chairs. The Ministry is quoted as saying Samsung simply doesn't "have the appropriate management of occupational health," and notes that when it requested relevant documentation, Samsung refused to supply it. Samsung has responded by saying it will investigate.