Nike promises to remedy problems<\/p>\n
PORTLAND, Oregon (AP): Workers at nine of Nike's contract
\nfactories in Indonesia have witnessed verbal and physical abuse
\nby supervisors against co-workers, and female employees being
\ncoerced into sex, according to a report released by a nonprofit
\nwatchdog group.<\/p>\n
Employees also complained of being forced to work overtime,
\nseeing assembly-line workers fondled by managers and having
\naccess to medical care restricted, the report by Global Alliance
\nreleased Wednesday found.<\/p>\n
Nike, which paid for the report, acknowledged that the
\nfindings were \"disturbing,\" but said it welcomed the chance to
\nimprove conditions at the 25 Indonesian factories from which it
\nbuys products.<\/p>\n
\"Of course, many of the results are disturbing, but that's
\nexactly what we wanted to find out,\" said Maria Eitel, Nike's
\nvice president and senior adviser for corporate responsibility.
\n\"While the messages are tough, we welcome them.\"<\/p>\n
Global Exchange, a San Francisco-based human rights group,
\ncredited Nike for releasing the findings.<\/p>\n
\"I find the conclusions surprising,\" said Jason Mark, a
\nspokesman for Global Exchange. \"I think it demonstrates a
\nwelcomed candor, but the question is what Nike will do with this
\ninformation.\"<\/p>\n
Researchers from Global Alliance conducted hour-long
\ninterviews with 4,004 workers - 6 percent of the work force at
\nthe nine factories chosen - for the report. Subjects were chosen
\nat random, and the interviews were unsupervised by factory
\nofficials, said Rick Little, chairman of Global Alliance.<\/p>\n
The Global Alliance, formed in 1999, is a consortium of groups
\nand companies -- including the World Bank, Nike and The Gap, a
\nmajor U.S. clothing retail chain -- committed to improving the
\nprofessional and personal lives of factory workers, especially
\nwomen, across Asia.<\/p>\n
Of the workers surveyed in the latest report, 56 percent said
\nthey had seen supervisors verbally abusing co-workers. And 15.7
\npercent reported observing improper sexual touching. Another 13.7
\npercent said they saw physical abuse.<\/p>\n
Workers reported seeing others punished for being late by
\nmaking them clean toilets or run around the factory grounds.
\nOthers allege that the deaths of two workers were related to the
\ndenial of medication.<\/p>\n
Most factories have on-site health clinics, but nearly 90
\npercent of workers surveyed said medication wasn't always
\navailable, and others complained that it was difficult to get
\ntime off to go to the clinics.<\/p>\n
Working conditions at overseas factories have been a
\nconsistent public relations problem for the Beaverton, Oregon-
\nbased athletic shoe and apparel giant.<\/p>\n
Nike paid for the latest report with a US$7.8 million grant.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/nike-promises-to-remedy-problems-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }