Against Gigantic Capital;

the Experience of Occupational Diseases and Struggle for Dignity of Samsung Electronic Workers in Korea

Jeong-Ok Kong Korea Institute of Labor Safety and Health(KILSH) Supporters for Health And Rights of People in Semi-

conductor Industry(SHARPs)

APNEC-10November 2011

Contents Background

Production of Electronics in aspects of OHS Electronics Industry in Korea Samsung Electronics

Occupational Diseases in Samsung The First Voice & Resonance “The Girl of Semiconductor” What the Victims Witness

Responses of Samsung & Govn. Distorted Truth, and Deceived Dignity Building Wide Network of Solidarity

Historical Victory & Remained Problems

Background

Production of Electronics in aspects of OHS

www.sony.net

http://www.ventureoutsource.com/files/u1/Electronics-Sup-ply-Chain-lr.gif

Production of Electronics in aspects of OHS Chemical-intensive production with rapid

change Limitation of Science

High flexibility with predominance of female + Historical anti-union policy + Culture of patri-archy Limitation of Workers’ empowerment

Global supply chain with mass production in the developing countries Limitation of Society

7,691 companies(2009) and 494,666 fulltime workers(2007) in IT Device industry

Global Market Share 13.5% in semiconductor (3rd), 59.0% in DRAM (1st) 45.6% in Display (1st)

Communication De-vice

120,299

Information Device 40,590Broadcasting Device 42,155Components 291,622IT Device Total 494,666http://www.itstat.go.kr

http://www.index.go.kr

Electronics Industry in Korea

Samsung Electronics The Samsung Group

the richest conglomerate of South Korea, Net sales = 172.5 billion$, Net income =13.8 billion$

(2010) Employees = 275,000

Electronics is the major business of Samsung Employees in Korea = 173,965 Global network at 193 sites including 39 production

sites 16.1% of total exports of Korea the 1st or 2nd in the global market of semiconduc-

tor, flat panel TVs, and mobile phone

Occupational Diseases in Sam-sung

The First Voice & Resonance

“The Girl of Semiconductor”

What the Victims Witness Leukemia in two female in Diffusion process

What the Victims Witness Team of Four Engineers in Diffusion process

Leukemia Malignant melanoma Granulomatosis

Operators in Burn-in Test process Aplastic anemia Brain cancer Leukemia

What the Victims Witness

What the Victims Witness

　 Samsung Electronics Total

Semiconductor LCD Mobilephone

etc. Subtotal

No.of Victims Total 79 16 3 9 107 149

Cancer 63 10 2 6 81 114

No.of DeathsTotal 27 7 2 5 41 59

Cancer 23 6 1 5 35 53

Responses of Samsung & Govn.

Distorted Truth, and Deceived Dignity NHL(Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma)

Female* SMR 2.06, SPR 2.67 Female(FAB)* SMR 2.66, SPR 5.16 Male SMR 0.62, SPR 0.77

Leukemia Female SMR 1.48, SPR 1.31 Male SMR 0.36, SPR 0.87

‘Red signal’ about brain cancer. SMR of all causes Male 0.53, Female 0.66 SPR of all cancers Male 0.86, Female 0.97 SPR of brain cancers Male 1.36, Female 1.28

Distorted Truth, and Deceived Dignity KOSHA said “Risk of Leukemia was not statis-

tically significantly elevated in semiconductor workers”.

“Scientific study revealed that there is no rela-tionship between leukemia and Samsung semiconductor” (Apr.2010, Samsung)

Building Wide Network of Solidarity Victims & OHS NGOs, Labor unions, and pro-

gressive parties Professionals in Public health, OEM, and

Lawyers Voluntary activities in many local cities Progressive church people Artists Politicians International network

Historical Victory &Remained Problems

The 1st Legal Recognition of Occup. Dz in Semiconduc-tor

Jun 2007, Hwang Yumi, demand workers‘ compensation(KCOMWEL)

Apr 2008, +Five other leukemia workers May 2009, KCOMWEL's Decision not to compensate Jan 2010, Lawsuit Jun 2011, Court Decision

"Despite the fact that the case of deceased Hwang Yumi and Lee Suk Young didn't reveal a clear medical etiol-ogy on the onset of leukemia, the continual exposure to the chemical hazard is assumed to have brought the onset of the disease, or at least, promoted it…”

Historical Victory

Jul 2011, KCOMWEL appealed to the High Court against Two workers

18 out of 21 workers demanding compensa-tion were refused, 3 are waiting the decisions

“Reference of Defendant” = Samsung

The Right and Dignity of Occup. Victims?

Remained Problems

Renewal of OHS legislative system Burden of proof, Benefit of doubt Precautionary principle The right to know & Trade secret

Distorted Science No evidence of association ≠ evidence of No association

Internalization of cost & Corporate responsibility

Substantial solidarity in the Int’l network, mainly in Asia

Remained Problems

Thank You!