Nike-Admits-Foreign-Contractors-Abuse-Workers

Employees working at multiple Converse Factories say supervisors “throw shoes at them, slap them in the face and call them dogs and pigs”.

Nike, who owns Converse, admits the abuse has taken place among the contractors that manufacture its Converse products yet claims there is little they can do about it. One worker even said she was kicked by a supervisor last year after making a mistake while cutting rubber for soles… I mean, I feel like kicking someone when I get a poorly manufactured product but I’d never actually do it! To top it off, the 10,000 mostly female employees who work at the Taiwanese- operated Pou Chen plant make, on average, 50 cents an hour. It’s been said this is enough for food and bunkhouse-type lodging and little else. I understand economics are incredibly different in the U.S. compared to other countries but for a multibillion dollar a year company, which has just increased prices across the board mind you, chooses to allow this type of environment for its employees (even if contracted through an independently operated factory) along with a 50 cent hourly wage is just ridiculous.

If you are intrigued by the subject and would like to know to entire story, click HERE to read the full article.

Via SF Cronicle

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5 Comments

  1. When individuals comment about my sports apparel allegiance to Nike, they often point out the aforementioned conditions overseas contract workers are subject to.

    And I respond, “You are right. Nike can do more, and should to do more.” Well I can’t support a company like that, is usually the following statement.

    Listen, being a business major, I’ve learned virtually all major multi-national corporations are involved in some form of nefarious activity on some criminal, civil, and/or ethical level in operations.

    1. Atltwen, at least finish your argument. You know, something vaguely along the line… “I wouldn’t be a better or worse person had I bought a pair of adidas sneaker. They too, manufacture the majority of their shoes in China.” I mean, do you approve of their ‘nefarious activity’ as long as they can minimize costs (no evidence of that…)? Or you could care less of how the workers are treated as long as you can cop the latest pair of jordans or whatever?

      Wow reading what I just wrote, I can see I’m being a bit of a prick. But yeah, listen, I’m also somewhat disturbed & ticked off by the nonchalant tone of your argument and total disregard for the workers’ well-being. You could’ve mentioned how the Chinese government could’ve done more to protect their workers. But noooo, you go back and use the ridiculous everyone-does-it-therefore-it’s-okay argument.

  2. Man, that’s just f***** messed up! I mean, it isn’t my first time hearing stuff I like this. I bet it happens ALL the time and I bet those workers are already threaten if they tell on ’em. Kicking a worker for not doing something right, cmon. Show ’em compassion & understanding! Just comes to show, there’s always a “dark side” in factories.

  3. blame Nike themselves!! they could open up a factory in the US and quite outsorcing all these jobs which do things like this and also create “fakes” or “variants” of jordans. but noooo, they need to raise prices on the 2012 releases to $225. and still get them produced dirt cheap in foreign company. thats just the society we live in…