Nike, headquartered in Oregon, USA, produces a wide range of highly publicized sports shoes. Established in the '60s, got its present name in 1985. Every year 6 million pairs of Nike sports shoes are packed in Indonesia under license usually granted by the South Korean HQ, a subsidiary of Nike. Employees monitor the quality of daily Nike factories in Tangerang and Serang 6. 6 These factories are competing with each other to maintain the licenses, which are renewed monthly.
The average daily wage of the 24,000 workers of these factories is just 1,100 pounds. According to the AAFLI (Asian-American Institute for Free Labor), these factories 12 are in violation of national laws, including minimum wage, child labor, overtime, hours of work, insurance, trade union and firing. Have been highlighted in respect of health problems, vacations and maternity leave. Although the factories are not directly owned by Nike, the company is financially in a position to ensure the strengthening of the minimum standard of living.
Nike wages in Indonesia.
Indonesia has a daily minimum wage of 2,100 rupees (about 1,400 pounds), but even this is below the "minimum physical needs" estimated by the government. And with 12 million unemployed about 70 million labor force, it is impossible to increase this minimum. Recent investigations have revealed that nearly 80% of workers in the Tangerang region receives only 1,600 rupees a day, and then long hours of overtime are usually essential for survival. The ILO (International Labour Organization) estimates that 80% of women workers in Indonesia are malnourished.
In 1990, Operation Push, a civil rights group, has launched a boycott of Nike because, despite selling 45% of its products to blacks, there are no African Americans at the top of the company and shall not grant sufficient social benefits to the black community.
In March 1997 the company has allowed the Vietnam Labour Watch, an activist group, to meet with employees, department heads, representatives and legal experts from Vietnam, but the surprise VLW also visited three plants. The result is what you can read the report from the Vietnam Labour Watch, and I can sum up with violations of safety standards at work, exploitation, beatings, humiliation and sexual violence.
Nike also manufactures in Indonesia and China, but could not find information on working conditions in those countries. Of course, my research can not be said depth, but since Nike has opened plants there only after Korea and Taiwan, have gained more freedom and wages more, some doubt arises.
Nike in Vietnam also produces more or less the same way, here the boycott campaigns have fortunately some success in recent years.
In April 1998, the corporation surrendered. The announcement was made by the big boss himself, Phil Knight, founder, largest shareholder and CEO of the group. Provided that the boycott campaign is over, Nike has agreed to raise from 14 to 18 years the minimum age of workers in shoe factories and bring to 16 the minimum age for all other workers employed in the production of clothing, accessories and equipment.
In 12 fabbriche indonesiane è scattato un aumento del 37% della retribuzione di tutti i lavoratori che percepivano il salario minimo (28 mila persone). L'azienda si è inoltre impegnata a bonificare tutte le sue fabbriche e a rispettare i livelli di sicurezza imposti dalla legge. Inoltre aumenterà il sostegno all'attuale programma di micro-finanziamento, che gia' coinvolge mille famiglie in Vietnam, estendendolo anche all'Indonesia, al Pakistan e alla Thailandia. In tutti gli stabilimenti asiatici il gruppo, che ha il quartier generale a Beaverton, nell'Oregon, amplierà i programmi di istruzione, offrendo ai dipendenti corsi per ottenere un diplorna equivalente a quello delle scuole medie e superiori.
Dopo la conferenza stampa che si è tenuta a Washington, in cui la Nike annunciava la resa, le sue azioni in borsa sono salite di due dollari.
Nel maggio 1998, la Nike ha annunciato che avrebbe permesso che le sue fabbriche vietnamite fossero monitorate da personale indipendente, ma sono state scelte aziende pro-profit (Global Exchange).
Nell’aprile 1999 ha annunciato la formazione della Global Alliance for Workers and Communities, un gruppo di organizzazioni pubbliche, private e no-profit, che dovrebbe accertarsi delle condizioni di lavoro attraverso interviste ed indagini, ma il sito non è aggiornato sulle conseguenze di questa azione.
Sempre nel '99 Some hazardous chemicals have been replaced and the systems (Vietnamese) were equipped with ventilation systems, but the quality standards are considered to be still far from secure.
In July 2003, the boycott is extended to Converse, the historic maker of basketball shoes, after the acquisition of it by Nike for $ 305 million. The famous Converse Chuck Taylor All Star, at the foot of all NBA players, then enter the offer that Nike can sell shoes Converse all over the world except in Japan where rights are in the hands of another house.
In April 2005, Nike published the same "2004 Corporate Responsibility Report ", by which admits abuses which had been accused for years. At the same time also revealed the names and addresses of over 700 factories in the world, as the activists were asking for 10 years (Educating For Justice).
However, campaigns are still ongoing because the exploitation continues.
If you want to know more, these are the first sites that you find with a simple search:
Nike - Kill a Multi (Italian site )
Educating For Justice - Stop Nike (updated 2006);
Saigon.com - Boycott Nike (Updated to 2001);
Global Exchange Nike campaign (updated to 1999);
Just do it! Boycott Nike! (updated 1999).
GENERAL CONCLUSIONS.
oppressive regime: all Nike shoes are manufactured in Asia, particularly Indonesia, China, Thailand, Taiwan, South Korea, Vietnam.
Labor Relations: in Indonesia free trade unions are illegal and are suppressed by the army, union leaders were fired, imprisoned, tortured and even killed.
WAGES AND WORKING CONDITIONS: Nike workers receive poverty wages, less than the minimum wage established by law in Indonesia. Workers exposed to fumes from glues, solvents, paints, for 12 hours a day.
irresponsible marketing: Nike spends about $ 180 million a year in advertising, when it would be enough for 1% of this budget to improve the conditions of 15,000 workers in Indonesia.
As always: who is not acting because he did not interessi personali a farlo e chi continua a comprare Nike lo fa perché non vuole rinunciare alla sua scarpina carina e griffata, e se é fatta da una ragazzina di sedici anni che viene pagata una miseria non può certo farsene carico (la vita è già triste e difficile così....vero?)
Indonesia has a daily minimum wage of 2,100 rupees (about 1,400 pounds), but even this is below the "minimum physical needs" estimated by the government. And with 12 million unemployed about 70 million labor force, it is impossible to increase this minimum. Recent investigations have revealed that nearly 80% of workers in the Tangerang region receives only 1,600 rupees a day, and then long hours of overtime are usually essential for survival. The ILO (International Labour Organization) estimates that 80% of women workers in Indonesia are malnourished.
In 1990, Operation Push, a civil rights group, has launched a boycott of Nike because, despite selling 45% of its products to blacks, there are no African Americans at the top of the company and shall not grant sufficient social benefits to the black community.
In March 1997 the company has allowed the Vietnam Labour Watch, an activist group, to meet with employees, department heads, representatives and legal experts from Vietnam, but the surprise VLW also visited three plants. The result is what you can read the report from the Vietnam Labour Watch, and I can sum up with violations of safety standards at work, exploitation, beatings, humiliation and sexual violence.
Nike also manufactures in Indonesia and China, but could not find information on working conditions in those countries. Of course, my research can not be said depth, but since Nike has opened plants there only after Korea and Taiwan, have gained more freedom and wages more, some doubt arises.
Nike in Vietnam also produces more or less the same way, here the boycott campaigns have fortunately some success in recent years.
In April 1998, the corporation surrendered. The announcement was made by the big boss himself, Phil Knight, founder, largest shareholder and CEO of the group. Provided that the boycott campaign is over, Nike has agreed to raise from 14 to 18 years the minimum age of workers in shoe factories and bring to 16 the minimum age for all other workers employed in the production of clothing, accessories and equipment.
In 12 fabbriche indonesiane è scattato un aumento del 37% della retribuzione di tutti i lavoratori che percepivano il salario minimo (28 mila persone). L'azienda si è inoltre impegnata a bonificare tutte le sue fabbriche e a rispettare i livelli di sicurezza imposti dalla legge. Inoltre aumenterà il sostegno all'attuale programma di micro-finanziamento, che gia' coinvolge mille famiglie in Vietnam, estendendolo anche all'Indonesia, al Pakistan e alla Thailandia. In tutti gli stabilimenti asiatici il gruppo, che ha il quartier generale a Beaverton, nell'Oregon, amplierà i programmi di istruzione, offrendo ai dipendenti corsi per ottenere un diplorna equivalente a quello delle scuole medie e superiori.
Dopo la conferenza stampa che si è tenuta a Washington, in cui la Nike annunciava la resa, le sue azioni in borsa sono salite di due dollari.
Nel maggio 1998, la Nike ha annunciato che avrebbe permesso che le sue fabbriche vietnamite fossero monitorate da personale indipendente, ma sono state scelte aziende pro-profit (Global Exchange).
Nell’aprile 1999 ha annunciato la formazione della Global Alliance for Workers and Communities, un gruppo di organizzazioni pubbliche, private e no-profit, che dovrebbe accertarsi delle condizioni di lavoro attraverso interviste ed indagini, ma il sito non è aggiornato sulle conseguenze di questa azione.
Sempre nel '99 Some hazardous chemicals have been replaced and the systems (Vietnamese) were equipped with ventilation systems, but the quality standards are considered to be still far from secure.
In July 2003, the boycott is extended to Converse, the historic maker of basketball shoes, after the acquisition of it by Nike for $ 305 million. The famous Converse Chuck Taylor All Star, at the foot of all NBA players, then enter the offer that Nike can sell shoes Converse all over the world except in Japan where rights are in the hands of another house.
In April 2005, Nike published the same "2004 Corporate Responsibility Report ", by which admits abuses which had been accused for years. At the same time also revealed the names and addresses of over 700 factories in the world, as the activists were asking for 10 years (Educating For Justice).
However, campaigns are still ongoing because the exploitation continues.
If you want to know more, these are the first sites that you find with a simple search:
Nike - Kill a Multi (Italian site )
Educating For Justice - Stop Nike (updated 2006);
Saigon.com - Boycott Nike (Updated to 2001);
Global Exchange Nike campaign (updated to 1999);
Just do it! Boycott Nike! (updated 1999).
BUT HOW MUCH IS A NIKE SHOES ?
GENERAL CONCLUSIONS.
oppressive regime: all Nike shoes are manufactured in Asia, particularly Indonesia, China, Thailand, Taiwan, South Korea, Vietnam.
Labor Relations: in Indonesia free trade unions are illegal and are suppressed by the army, union leaders were fired, imprisoned, tortured and even killed.
WAGES AND WORKING CONDITIONS: Nike workers receive poverty wages, less than the minimum wage established by law in Indonesia. Workers exposed to fumes from glues, solvents, paints, for 12 hours a day.
irresponsible marketing: Nike spends about $ 180 million a year in advertising, when it would be enough for 1% of this budget to improve the conditions of 15,000 workers in Indonesia.
As always: who is not acting because he did not interessi personali a farlo e chi continua a comprare Nike lo fa perché non vuole rinunciare alla sua scarpina carina e griffata, e se é fatta da una ragazzina di sedici anni che viene pagata una miseria non può certo farsene carico (la vita è già triste e difficile così....vero?)
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