Report - We Are Not Machines - Nike and Adidas workers in Indonesia

CCC is calling for the Bangladeshi authorities to launch an immediate and impartial investigation into the killing and for them to work tirelessly to bring the perpetrators to justice.

Bangladeshi labor rights activist tortured and murdered

Aminul Islam, a Bangladeshi labor rights activist and former apparel worker was tortured and murdered last week in Dhaka. His body was dumped outside of the capital city and was found by local police last Thursday. According to the police report, Aminul Islam's body bore signs of brutal torture.

Just Pay it: Wage compensation for Indonesian Nike workers

After 11 months of negotiation, a Nike supplier factory has agreed to pay $1m to Indonesian workers for 593,468 hours of unpaid overtime.For the 4,500 workers the deal means that they receive an average of about US$ 220 each.

Agreement reached with PVH on safety in Bangladeshi garment factories

CCC, together with Bangladeshi and international labour rights groups and trade unions, have signed an Memorandum of Understanding with the US based company PVH (owner of Tommy Hilfiger and Calvin Klein) to improve safety at their suppliers in Bangladesh.

Historic pact strengthens sportswear workers union rights

A historic agreement which follows two years of negotiations after the Playfair 2008 campaign was signed. The pact which addresses core labour rights issues in Indonesian factories was signed by Indonesian textile, clothing and footwear unions, major supplier factories and the major sportswear brands, including Adidas, Nike and Puma.

Report - We Are Not Machines - Nike and Adidas workers in Indonesia

Friday, 01 March 2002 12:11

"WeAre Not Machines"
New report finds that Indonesian Nike and Adidas workers are paidso little they are forced to separate from their children.

07 Mar 2002, A new report was released internationally today bythe Clean Clothes Campaign (Europe), Oxfam Community Aid Abroad(Australia), Oxfam Canada, , Global Exchange (USA) and the MaquilaSolidarity Network (Canada). Please find Oxfam Community Aid Abroad'spress release below. The report (with an executive summary) is availableon our website.

PDF version 564 kb

Embargoed until 7 March 2002

"WE ARE NOT MACHINES"

A new report has found that Indonesian Nike and Adidas workersare paid so little they are forced to separate from their children.

The report, titled We Are Not Machines, was released today by leadingaid agency, Oxfam Community Aid Abroad. It reveals that workersare living in extreme poverty, with full time wages as low as $US2a day.

"Nike and Adidas workers who want to live with their childrenare going into debt to meet their families' basic needs," saysAndrew Hewett, Executive Director of Oxfam Community Aid Abroad"Most are forced by their poverty to send their children todistant villages, to be cared for by relatives."

According to the report, workers depend on the extra income gainedby working long hours of overtime. They have been hit hard by theUS economic downturn, which has pushed down demand for sports wear,resulting in cuts in overtime in many factories.

Other findings include:

Workers have good reason to fear that if they join independentunions they may face dismissal, jail or physical assault.
Although there has been some reduction the pressures on workers,they still work in dangerous conditions, and are still shoutedat when they work too slowly. Workplace dangers include respiratoryillness from inhaling toxic chemicals and finger loss in cuttingmachines.
In Nike and Adidas' largest Indonesian supplier factory, womenwho want to claim legally mandated menstrual leave must sufferthe humiliation of proving they are menstruating by pulling downtheir pants in front of female factory doctors.

"Nike and Adidas must ensure that wages meet workers' basicneeds, ensure workers are free to form unions, and adopt an independentand transparent factory monitoring system", says Mr. Hewett."Large corporations have a responsibility to ensure that thebasic rights of workers making their products are respected".

The report's author, Tim Connor is available for interview on 61403 339 578 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it (note time difference - Sydney is GMT +11)