On March 31, 2010, Park Ji-yeon — a young worker from Samsung’s Onyang semiconductor factory — died of leukemia at age 23. Her tragic death came less than one month after Samsung workers, their families, and community supporters participated in the 1st Memorial Week of occupational deaths of semiconductor workers to honor the memory of the many other workers who gave their lives working at Samsung. There are now 23 documented cases of Samsung workers who have suffered from blood cancers like leukemia or lymphoma, and 9 workers among them have already died. Instead of conducting a proper investigation of the occupational nature of the deaths and adopting adequate prevention measures, the Korean government is backing Samsung. Sign the petition to support the workers.

“Enough is Enough” – Groups call for global actions on Workers’ Memorial Day April 28

On March 31, 2010, Park Ji-yeon — a young worker from Samsung’s Onyang semiconductor factory — died of leukemia at age 23. Her tragic death came less than one month after Samsung workers, their families, and community supporters participated in the 1st Memorial Week of occupational deaths of semiconductor workers to honor the memory of the many other workers who gave their lives working at Samsung. There are now 23 documented cases of Samsung workers who have suffered from blood cancers like leukemia or lymphoma, and 9 workers among them have already died. Sign the petition to support the workers.

Instead of conducting a proper investigation of the occupational nature of the deaths and adopting adequate prevention measures, the Korean government supported Samsung and joined its efforts to silence the growing evidence of a cancer cluster among electronics manufacturing workers at Samsung in Korea who have been exposed to toxic chemicals. On 2nd April there was a funeral ceremony for Park Ji-yeon, followed by a press conference at Samsung headquarters in Seoul to demand accountability from Samsung. The press conference was broken up by the police who then arrested seven of the activists who then shouted to Samsung “You are responsible for the death of Ji-Yeon Park.” They were released 2 days later without charges.Another cancer death at Samsung but Korean government arrests OHS activists

The International Campaign for Health and Labour Rights of Samsung Electronics Workers condemns these actions by Samsung and the Korean government and demands that:

  •     Samsung acknowledge its responsibility for the cancer deaths of its workers;
  •     The Korean government enforce its laws against Samsung for its actions rather than punish its workers and their supporters.

 

Sign the petition

to support the Samsung workers.