Short Report on initial research trip to Qingdau, China

Name: Qingdau Sewon Shoes Co. Ltd.
Location: Jiaozhous City, Qingdau, China
Products: Nike sports shoes

Qingdau Sewon Shoes Co. Ltd. is a Korean funded enterprise which invests about 1.02 billions RMB in Qingdau. It operates two factories in Qingdau. The one under investigation is located in Jiaozhous City. Nike has conducted a report indicated that occupational health and safety condition of Nike factories in Vietnam is above average. However, we found that the factory in Qingdau is endangering workers' lives.

The pictures besides showed the front view and back view of Qingdau Sewon Shoes Co. Ltd. factory in Jiaozhous City. The windows of this factory are all shut and equipped with anti-theft wire cages or nets. These anti-theft wire nets or cages would endanger workers' lives in the case of a serious fire because these cages or nets will block one of the main escape routes for workers.

A serious fire recently broke out in an electronics factory in Shenzhen which was also equipped with these kind of nets. More than twenty workers were killed. The main reason why so many workers died was the anti-theft wire nets. It prevented workers from leaving the factory. Apart from that, this Nike footwear producer has a poor record in terms of preventing fire accidents. Two serious fire accidents have broken out, mainly due to the illegal and unacceptable design of manufacturing machines and chemical storage stock. The lives of workers of Sewon Shoe Company Limited are in grave danger. We are extremely critical of the attitude of Nike's supplier in ignoring the importance of occupational health and safety and the rights of workers. The "design" of this factory disobeys Nikes "Code of Conduct" for its suppliers. We demand Nike ensure the occupational health and safety of workers, not merely have them written in the "Code of Conduct".

Interview with worker
The worker being interviewed has worked in this factory for only three months. She is 19 year old and from the Qingdau area. She earns only 360 RMB each month. She complains that her monthly salary is not enough for her to live in Qingdau. Besides, she need to work overtime everyday. Sometimes, she needs to work past midnight (until 2:00 a.m. or 3:00 a.m.). As no transportation facility has provided, it is very dangerous for woman workers to go back home alone at midnight. As the unemployment rate in Qingdau is high, it is extremely difficult to find a vacancy in another factory. Nobody wants to work in such dangerous and demanding factory. Unfortunately, they have no choice.

Hong Kong Christian Industrial Committee
7/F., 57 Peking Road, Kowloon, Hong Kong