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Thursday, 7 March, 2002, 07:59 GMT

Oxfam condemns sportswear giants


Nike trainers
Don't do it? The report is the second to criticise Nike
By Richard Galpin
BBC Jakarta Correspondent

The international aid agency, Oxfam Community Aid Abroad, has released a new report condemning conditions at dozens of factories in Indonesia supplying the top sportswear manufacturers Nike and Adidas.

Indonesian workers in Nike factories

The report says tens of thousands of employees are still living in extreme poverty and work in dangerous conditions.

The criticism comes at a sensitive time for the companies, less than three months before the football World Cup kicks off.

It is the second report produced by Oxfam on factory conditions in Indonesia in less than two years.

Hazardous jobs

The aim was to assess whether there have been any significant improvements since the earlier investigation was first published, alleging extreme abuse of workers' basic rights in many factories supplying goods to the two sportswear companies.

According to Oxfam, the result this time is not much better.

It says workers' lives are still dominated by poverty and fear.

With full-time wages as low as $2 a day, families do not have enough to live on.

It alleges those active in trade unions are afraid of losing their jobs or even being attacked and the work itself, it is alleged, remains hazardous.

The report says there are still accidents involving cutting machines and that illness is caused by inhaling fumes from toxic chemicals - and all this to supply the world's largest sportswear companies, which in the last financial year earned around $750 million between them.

Allegations denied

However a spokesman for Adidas denied many of the allegations.

Tennis player Anna Kournikova in an Adidas top

He said wages had been increased recently, and that trade unions were encouraged to play a role in the factories.

He added the company was trying to ensure good conditions for the workforce.

But Oxfam insists neither Nike nor Adidas are doing enough to ensure workers are able to live in dignity.

It also warns consumers they cannot be confident that sportswear produced by these high-profile companies is made in decent conditions.


Related to this story:
Nike sees earnings grow (20 Dec 01 | Business) Athletes urged to rethink Nike ties (04 Sep 00 | Asia-Pacific) Nike slams Vietnam labour critics (21 Jan 99 | Asia-Pacific) Nike cuts university funding (05 May 00 | Americas) Reebok criticises own factories (19 Oct 99 | Americas) Sports giant Nike in dock again (20 Apr 98 | Asia-Pacific) Nike website is hijacked (22 Jun 00 | Sci/Tech)


Internet links: Nike | Global Alliance | CAAO: Just Stop It campaign | Campaign against Nike practices in Indonesia |
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