Samsung denies breaking child labour law

Samsung has denied reports that it has broken child labour laws by hiring underage workers at a factory in China.

China Labor Watch (CLW) alleges that the firm's auditing process at its plants has proven ineffective, claiming to have found minors working at its HTNS Shenzhen base.

"Perhaps the most alarming violation is the use of child workers at HTNS. CLW's investigator met at least three girls who were under the age of 16, which is the legal definition of child labour in China," said the group in a report.

However, Samsung has since dismissed the accusations in a statement issued to news organisation Bloomberg.

"We have confirmed that there are no underage workers employed [at HTNS Shenzhen]", said the tech giant. "Samsung holds itself and its supplier companies to the highest standards and maintains a zero tolerance policy on child labour."

Working conditions in Chinese manufacturing factories have come under intense scrutiny of late. Apple manufacturing partner Foxconn admitted in October to breaching child labour laws by hiring workers as young as 14.

Samsung conducted an audit of its factories in September and concluded that all of its products are manufactured under "world class" conditions.