Labour ministry seeks $108m in damages over 'serious' violations at Manaus factory of world's largest smartphone maker

This article is more than 7 years old

This article is more than 7 years old

Samsung Electronics Co is facing a lawsuit from the government of Brazil, which is seeking damages over poor working conditions at the technology company's Brazilian assembly lines.

Brazil's labour ministry has found "serious" labour violations, including working up to 15 hours of work a day and insufficient breaks at Samsung's Manaus factory, labour rights group Reporter Brasil has reported on its website. The group said the lawsuit is seeking $108m (£70m) in damages.

Prosecutors allege that in 2012 more than 2,000 workers suffered from health problems such as back injuries that were related to working conditions, the group reports.

Samsung said on Wednesday it would co-operate with Brazilian authorities.

"Once we receive the complaint in question, we will conduct a thorough review and fully co-operate 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," it said in a statement.

Samsung, the world's largest maker of smartphones, memory chips and LCD display panels, was prosecuted in Brazil in 2011 over poor working conditions and paid a settlement of about $200,000.

The company has also been accused of hiring children in China and has faced a flurry of lawsuits in South Korea from workers seeking compensation for health hazards at its factories.