Nike worker speaks out
Lern’s story – Nike in Thailand
This is Lern's story, based on an interview Tim Connor conducted with her on 30 November 2002. Lern is not her real name. She asked to use a different name so that she wouldn't be victimised for giving this interview.
Lern grew up in a rural area in northern Thailand. It was hard to find work there, and the work available was very badly paid, so in 1998 she moved to the city to look for work.
She soon found a job working on the stitching line in a factory owned by the Bed and Bath Prestige company. The factory was producing for Nike when Lern started there in 1998, and continued to produce for Nike right up until October 2002, when it closed.
Forced to work through the night
Illustration: Jemma Castle, Arielle Gamble,
KinWai Cheung, Alicja Slazak & Benjamin
Dawson
Working hours at the factory were so long that work completely dominated Lern's life. Her shift started at 8.30am and most nights she worked overtime until 10pm and three or four days a week she worked until 2am. In the lead up to Christmas, she would work past 2am. In really busy periods she would work right through the night.
When orders were low she got Sunday off. During busy times she would sometimes work a whole month with no days off. Depending on the orders, Lern worked between 70 and 110 hours per week.
Wages below legal daily minimum
Lern and other workers were willing to work this many hours in order to earn enough to save and to be able to send some money home to their families. The legal daily minimum wage in the Bangkok area is 160 Baht ($US3.70), too low to meet workers most basic physical needs.
Workers encouraged to take drugs to work longer
According to Lern, during busy periods the factory owner, Mr Chaiyapat Photikamjorn, put amphetamines in some of the large drink containers, mixed with ice, coca-cola and other soft drinks, so that workers could take the drugs to help them work through the night. At times Lern was asked to help prepare the drinks and to put the pills in one of the drink containers for her work section. Mr.Chaiyapat never told them what the pills were, but all workers knew they were amphetamines. Few workers refused to take the drugs, because it was the only way they could work the hours demanded of them. When drinking from these containers they could work up to 48 hours in a row before they collapsed.
Abuse suffered at the hand of her boss
According to Lern, Mr Chaiyapat was moody, and when he was in a bad mood workers suffered. Lern had often heard that in the packing section he would grab workers by the shirt and shout at them if they worked too slowly. He would also fine workers on the slightest pretext. If he was in a particularly bad mood you could be fined 500 Baht ($US11.60) for yawning. In September or October a worker was fined 2,000 Baht ($US46.20) for bringing a lemon to work to help her keep awake.
Workers told to lie to company representatives
Illustration: Jemma Castle, Arielle Gamble,
KinWai Cheung, Alicja Slazak & Benjamin
Dawson
Nike, Levi's, Reebok, Adidas and other companies that placed orders at the factory all have codes of conduct. These codes were put up on the walls of the factory and workers wore a summary of the Nike code around their neck. Before someone from Nike, Reebok, Adidas, Levi's or another customer visited the factory, workers had to clean all the machines and prepare the factory. All workers were given cloth masks for the day. Mr.Chaiyapat instructed them to only speak positively and to say that they always finished work at 8pm.
Workers intimidated to stop them speaking out
When the company representatives arrived they would identify which workers they wanted to speak to. Factory personnel would then take those workers to a room in the factory for the meeting. On the way to the meeting workers would be reminded that they should only say positive things about the factory and warned that they would be punished if the factory received a negative report.
Workers threatened if they join union
In April 2001 the factory relocated. The new site was close to a factory owned by the Topline company, which had a union. From that point on Mr.Chaiyapat worked hard to make sure the workers would not form a union. He frequently made speeches to workers over the loudspeaker in which he warned that any worker who tried to form a union should "say good-bye to your parents". Workers took this threat seriously. According to Lern, Mr.Chaiyapat was constantly surrounded by six bodyguards and workers regarded him as akin to a mafia leader. They did not doubt that he was capable of arranging violence against them.
Factory closes and workers left stranded
In October the factory closed and Mr.Chaiyapat disappeared, owing workers backpay and severance pay. Lern and 350 other workers have been camped at the offices of the Ministry of Labour for the last month, demanding that the Thai government and Nike, Adidas, Levi's and the other brands give workers the money they are owed.
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