NEW YORK – An undercover investigation by a prominent human rights group has found labor rights violations ranging from unpaid and excessive overtime to verbal and physical abuse at a China-based supplier to Samsung. The report, issued this week by China Labor Watch, details such violations as $84,000 of monthly unpaid overtime wages, up to 148 hours of overtime per month, intense rates of work that have workers assembling one cellphone case every four seconds, regular verbal abuse by management, forcing workers to work barefoot, fines imposed on workers, and insufficient safety training and safety measures.

WASHINGTON – Global semiconductor sales were $27.06 billion in October, up 7.2% year-over-year, and up 0.8% sequentially, says the Semiconductor Industry Association. October marked the eighth consecutive month of growth in sales and the industry’s first-ever month above $27 billion in sales, the firm says.

ATLANTA, GA – CIRCUITS ASSEMBLY today announced Lightspeed Manufacturing as its EMS Company of the Year for 2013. The distinction is bestowed annually on EMS companies that have demonstrated profitability and sustained excellence among their peers.

SAN JOSE -- Semiconductor fabrication equipment spending will decline about 9% to about $32.5 billion in 2013 as third-quarter demand fell more than expected. 2014 sales are expected to rebound in a big way, however.