Abuse rife at Nike's Indonesia plants

Reports of worker abuse at Nike factories are outlined in a new report

JAKARTA, Indonesia -- Workers at nine Indonesian factories under contract by U.S. sportswear giant Nike say they have either suffered or have witnessed sexual and verbal abuse.

Laborers also say they were asked to work what they called "illegal forms of overtime." They also said they were denied both sick leave and annual leave.

The allegations are in a report prepared by the Global Alliance, an international coalition dedicated to improving the lives of factory workers, particularly in Asia. Nike is a member of the organization.

The study is based on interviews with more than 4,000 workers at the different Nike plants, and was funded by the sportswear company in a move to try to improve working conditions at the contract factories.

The study was carried out by a Jakarta think-tank.

Disturbing problems

Nike has acknowledged that the findings are disturbing, but said it welcomes the chance to improve conditions.

"Of course many of the results are disturbing, but that's exactly what we wanted to find out," said Maria Eitel, Nike's vice president and senior adviser for corporate responsibility. "While the messages are tough, we welcome them."

Nike has promised to fix the problems by launching independent investigations into the allegations of abuse and to establish a channel that will allow workers to bring harassment issues directly to the management.

The company also says it will send out compliance teams and independent monitors certified by the Fair Labor Association, which will monitor worker concerns including leave and overtime.

Working conditions at its overseas factories have been a consistent public relations problem for Nike.

But even as problems continue to be reported at Nike factories, reported, Global Alliance believes the company is on the right track.

"They've taken this thing seriously, and most important, they have taken a reasonable remediation plan to address some of these disturbing problems that have been identified," Alliance chairman Rick Little said.

Global Alliance will go back to the same nine factories and conduct more interviews in a year's time.

Nike buys shoes and sportswear from a total of 25 factories in Indonesia.

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