Samsung Electronics said Monday it will soon announce its official position on the sufferings and deaths of its semiconductor workers from leukemia that family members and activist groups blame on the exposure to lethal chemicals at its plants.

Rep. Sim Sang-jung of the minor opposition Justice Party had said on Wednesday she will propose a bill urging Samsung to apologize and compensate the families of the victims who died from leukemia after working at the firms’ chip-making facilities.

Advocacy groups claim tens of Samsung’s workers died from diseases, including leukemia.

Kim Jun-shik, an executive vice president of Samsung Electronics, said the company has taken note of the proposals by Sim and family members. “We are reviewing the proposals in a sincere manner,” Kim said. “The Samsung management will make an official statement in response.”

He did not provide further details, including whether the company was reviewing the proposals positively.

Several workers at Samsung’s semiconductor plants have been diagnosed with leukemia and other diseases over the years, but the company denies that the working conditions at the plants are to blame.

(Yonhap)