Survey says Reebok producers improve conditions<\/p>\n
STOUGHTON, Mass. (Reuters): Athletic shoemaker Reebok
\nInternational Ltd., said Monday two factories in Indonesia had
\nimproved conditions for their workers after a company-sponsored
\nprobe revealed labor shortcomings.<\/p>\n
\"The knowledge we have gained from Peduli Hak (Indonesian for
\n'Caring for Rights') will improve conditions for all the footwear
\nfactories we use,\" said Doug Cahn, Vice President for Reebok's
\nHuman Rights Programs.<\/p>\n
\"By sharing the report broadly, we hope it can have a positive
\nimpact for the entire athletic footwear manufacturing industry.\"<\/p>\n
His comments came as Reebok made public the report by a
\nprominent Indonesian research firm examining conditions for
\nworkers in two Indonesian factories producing Reebok footwear.<\/p>\n
The report detailed workplace problems and the steps the two
\nfactories have taken to correct them.<\/p>\n
The study was conducted by Insan Hitawasana Sejahtera (IHS), a
\nresearch and consulting firm based in Jakarta. The report, Peduli
\nHak, profiled the conditions at PT Dong Joe Indonesia (DJI) and
\nPT Tong Yang Indonesia (TYI).<\/p>\n
The factories employ approximately 10,000 workers together and
\naccount for more than 75 percent of Reebok's footwear production
\nin Indonesia.<\/p>\n
\"To raise the bar on conditions for workers, we first had to
\nidentify remaining problems. IHS did this, then allowed the two
\nfactories to correct the problems before returning for a final
\nassessment,\" said Reebok's Jakarta-based Manager of Human Rights
\nPrograms, Jill Tucker. \"The result is that the factories have
\ncreated safer, more informed workplaces that better protect the
\nhuman rights of workers.\"<\/p>\n
Among other things, the IHS report was critical of management
\ncommunication with factory workers, sexual equality and health
\nand safety procedures in the factories. It also addressed wages,
\novertime and freedom of association.<\/p>\n
In an interview with Reuters from Jakarta, Cahn said he had
\nvisited one of the factories Monday for the first time in a year
\nand the differences were obvious.<\/p>\n
He said the factory had introduced specially-designed chairs
\nfor pregnant women and installed a ventilation system to rid the
\nbuilding of chemical fumes.<\/p>\n
In addition to physical improvements, there were less visible
\nchanges such as rotating work schedules to reduce fatigue among
\nworkers involved in repetitive tasks.<\/p>\n
And all workers in factories making Reebok products had
\nreceived three wage increases since the start of the Peduli Hak
\nproject and were now paid, \"substantially more than the
\nIndonesian minimum wage.\"<\/p>\n
The companies \"were willing partners in raising the bar\" on
\nfactory conditions, he said.<\/p>\n
Cahn said the company had isolated 19 key points from the
\nstudy and were using them as a basis for similar changes to be
\napplied at other factories in Asia that make Reebok shoes.<\/p>\n
The IHS team, which included principals of the firms, had full
\naccess to factory records and workers, and spent over 1,460 hours
\ninspecting the factories and interviewing workers.<\/p>\n
Reebok and some other U.S. clothing and footwear companies
\nhave taken steps to address complaints by labor unions and human
\nrights groups about low pay and dangerous conditions at overseas
\nfactories that produce their products. In 1992, Reebok adopted
\nand began implementing the first code of workplace standards in
\nthe athletic footwear industry.<\/p>\n
The Reebok Human Rights Production Standards are now
\nincorporated into all contracts the company has with factories
\nthat produce its footwear. Compliance with the Reebok Standards
\nis monitored by the Reebok Human Rights Program staff and by
\noutside professionals.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/survey-says-reebok-producers-improve-conditions-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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