When I heard the grumblings of Nike sweatshops in Asia a few years ago, I stopped buying anything from them. Now the proof is out. Nike has admitted to a series of abuses at its Asian factories, including forced overtime and limited access to water. Nike has published an 108-page report which acknowledges some allegations long hurled at it by human rights groups. Its report admits widespread problems in Asian factories and has been praised as "an important step forward" by observers.
Nike founder and chairman Philip Knight said: "We've been fairly quiet for the past three years in corporate responsibility... So we're using this report to play a little catch-up and draw a more complete picture." Gee, thanks Phil.
The Oregon-based firm lists 124 factories in China, 73 in Thailand, 35 in South Korea, 34 in Vietnam and others in Asia, the continent home to most accusations of sweatshop operations.
The survey found that in more than half of Nike's factories, employees worked more than 60 hours a week, in up to a quarter staff refusing to do overtime were punished. And wages were below the legal minimum in up to 25% of factories.
I wonder if Nike-sponsored Tiger Woods will say anything since he is half Asian. Probably not...he can't see anything over his walls of money.
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