Samsung Electronics said Monday that a probe of its suppliers in China had found no evidence of alleged child labor, but did uncover some "inadequate" employment practices that needed to be remedied.

The South Korean tech company inspected 105 Chinese partners in September following a report by China Labor Watch that at least one supplier employed children under the age of 16.

The US-based watchdog said staff at some plants were forced to work up to five times the legal overtime limit and denied basic labor rights.

Samsung said its investigators had reviewed employment records at all 105 suppliers and conducted face-to-face ID checks, but "did not identify any instance of child labor."

However, they did find "several instances of inadequate practices" including excessive overtime and a system of fines imposed for lateness or absenteeism.

"We have identified the need for initiatives to reduce employee overtime as a top priority, and we are researching and developing measures that will eliminate hours beyond legal limits by the end of 2014," Samsung said in a statement.

Samsung said it would review 144 additional suppliers by the end of this year.

From 2013, working conditions at all 249 suppliers in China would be monitored by a third party audit program, it added.

"Although we did not identify any child labor during our audits in September, we have demanded all suppliers to adopt a new hiring process immediately, and contracts with suppliers who use child labor will be terminated," the statement said.

AFP