Responding to recent allegations that a Samsung's supplier hired children to meet production targets, Samsung says it strictly maintains "a zero tolerance policy on child labor." China Labor Watch reported that Samsung's supplier Shinyang Electronics in Dongguan hired children and student workers under the legal working age. The New York-based labor watchdog said children were hired during a busy production period, worked for 11 hours a day without overtime pay and without social insurance. They usually left employment after three to six months when demand from Samsung declined, but without any severance pay.

Samsung says that it routinely conducts inspections to monitor its suppliers. For the supplier in question, the company says it has conducted a thorough audit in March 2013 which was followed by a third party inspection in August 2013, and yet another one in June 2014. "No cases of child labor were found during these audits," Samsung said.

"We are urgently looking into the latest allegations and will take appropriate measures in accordance with our policies to prevent any cases of child labor in our suppliers."

But China Labor Watch said Samsung's audit showing no child labor was inaccurate.