Samsung Electronics has tentatively suspended its business with a Chinese supplier that was recently accused of hiring underage children, the Korean firm said Monday. The firm added that it would permanently end all transactions if the allegation was proven to be true.

The statement came after New York-based China Labor Watch said on Thursday that it discovered minors were being employed at a factory owned by Shinyang Electronics in Dongguan of southern China.

Samsung said in its official blog that it has already uncovered evidence showing that Shinyang had hired children in its facilities. Business with the plant has been suspended as of Sunday.

“We regret that the suspicions (of child labor use) has risen,” the company said in its statement.

(shinjh@heraldcorp.com)