Investigation Finds Samsung and South Korea Colluding Against Sick Workers

Friday, August 12, 2016 | 0

Samsung is blocking its workers or their survivors from accessing information about deadly chemicals they routinely are exposed to at computer chip and liquid crystal display factories, the Associated Press reports.

An AP investigation found that South Korean authorities have withheld the information based on Samsung’s requests, which often cite “trade secrets.”

Sick workers need the information from the government or the court system to apply for workers’ compensation. Without the information, the government typically rejects their claims.

South Korean law bars governments and public agencies from using trade secrets as grounds to withhold corporate information when it is needed “to protect the lives, physical safety and health” of workers, but there are no penalties for violations, AP reported.