Factory workers demonstrate outside a factory official's house in Cipukat, Indonesia. Photo: M.Revaldi/OxfamAUS
Our campaign achievements
Sports brands still have a long way to go before they can honestly say that they are respecting workers rights.
But international campaigning by Oxfam and others has persuaded some sports brands to take some important steps forward – showing that change is happening and that your voice counts.
Big brands improve transparency of overseas operations
- After long-term campaigning, Nike, adidas and Puma released the names and addresses of all their supplier factories. This is important, because it means greater transparency about labour conditions in their supply chain.
New jobs for sacked Indonesian workers
- 1450 Indonesian workers, who lost their jobs in 2006 when an adidas supplier closed down, were given new jobs at the Indonesian adidas supplier CLI, including a number of the trade union leaders. This happened after 3,000 messages in support of the workers were sent to adidas.
Sacked union leaders receive hardship allowance
- When union leaders were fired for striking in adidas’ Panarab supplier in Indonesia, emails from Oxfam supporters helped to ensure those workers received a monthly hardship allowance while they campaigned to get their jobs back. This union has now been re-established in this factory
Nike takes steps once learning about exposure of toxic gases in factory
- After public exposure of workers being exposed to toxic gases, Nike introduced a new manufacturing process which dramatically reduced workers’ exposure to Toluene. This gas has been linked to nervous system damage and there is some evidence that it increases the likelihood of miscarriages (80% of sportswear workers are women).
Media coverage forces Nike to improve appalling working/living conditions for Malaysian workers
- Nike took steps to improve conditions for workers in Malaysia after media exposure of forced labour and appalling living conditions
In 2008 Nike improved conditions for migrant workers in Malaysia after Australian news media exposed forced labour and appalling living conditions, and many Oxfam supporters demanded Nike act. This is an incredible example of how much of a difference we can make by putting pressure on the big brands to protect workers' rights.
Find out more about this incredible victory for Malaysian workers.
Help us build on our successes by keeping the heat on adidas, Nike and Puma.
Act now
- Send Nike's CEO a message telling him that workers' rights matter.
- Send adidas' head of corporate social responsibility your message that workers' rights matter.
Learn more
For more information on how Nike and other sports brands should address systemic violations throughout their supply chains see:
- Offside! Labour Rights and Sportswear Production in Asia (PDF, 4MB)
- Clearing the Hurdles: Steps to improving working conditions in the global sportswear industry
Related links
- Maquiladora Health and Safety Network Support Network talks about the best way to protect the safety of workers who produce for big companies
- Clean Clothes Campaign explains clothing companies’ responsibility to ensure workers are treated fairly
- Maquila Solidarity Network’s explains companies’ responsibilities
- International Textile Garment and Leather Workers’ campaign: Bargaining for a living wage
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