Reebok admits problems at Indonesian factories http://www.theage.com.au/breaking/9910/19/A63280-1999Oct19.shtml Source: AP | Published: Tuesday October 19 7:40:45 AM BOSTON, Oct 18 - In an effort to improve conditions at factories worldwide, Reebok is blowing the whistle on itself for bad working conditions at its factories in Indonesia. The athletic shoe and apparel company, known for giving out annual human rights awards, said an independent study found problems with gender fairness, management communication and health and safety procedures. Some workers suffered rashes from harsh chemicals and pregnant women had to stand or sit on uncomfortable stools with no back support. The women also had to work near chemicals that could trigger nausea and vomiting. "The research team concluded that the major 'social problem' in the case of these two factories had less to do with willful violations of workers' rights than with problems of communication," the report said. "Workers were given complex forms and other documentation that they simply did not understand; this was further complicated by the fact that management seemed to assume that no clarification was needed." Stoughton-based Reebok International Ltd ordered the report in an effort to learn about and improve working conditions at its factories around the world. "We hope that this will also break through and encourage more companies to do something like this," said Sharon Cohen, the company's executive vice president for human rights. "We have nothing to hide." Reebok paid $US35,000 ($A53,582) for the report, which led to more than $US500,000 ($A765,462) in factory improvements. Human rights activists have long worried about labour conditions in developing countries that make American attire. Last month, former football star Frank Gifford defended his wife Kathie Lee Gifford during a heated Capitol Hill news conference where labor activists said her clothing line is still produced in foreign sweatshops. Medea Benjamin, a spokeswoman for the San Francisco-based labor rights group Global Exchange, said Reebok's report was a vast improvement over a 1997 Nike report on labor conditions at its foreign factories. Although the Nike report on Vietnamese factory conditions was conducted by former United Nations Ambassador Andrew Young, workers' rights advocates called the probe a sham and a guided tour. Benjamin applauded Reebok for carefully studying the factories and publicising the results. Reebok owns none of its own factories, relying instead on a network of subcontractors. Reebok is supplied by five factories in Indonesia, and also buys products made in China, Thailand, Vietnam and Brazil. ************************************************************************* This posting is provided to the individual members of this group without permission from the copyright owner for purposes of criticism, comment, scholarship and research under the "fair use" provisions of the Federal copyright laws and it may not be distributed further without permission of the copyright owner, except for "fair use." -- Leftlink - Australia's Broad Left Mailing List mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.alexia.net.au/~www/mhutton/index.html Sponsored by Melbourne's New International Bookshop Subscribe: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=subscribe%20leftlink Unsubscribe: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=unsubscribe%20leftlink
