After trying to analyze Nike’s responsibility report more in-depth, I noticed that when it comes to the sweatshop problem the actions being taken are for the most part very abstract ideas that don’t concretely outline specific ways that they are going to change the working conditions in these factories. The most specific thing it says is that they will survey contract factory workers on empowerment/satisfaction. As far as I know, most factories with terrible working conditions were surveyed throughout the time in which they were treating workers badly. The workers were trained by their superiors to lie and tell the surveyors what they wanted to hear. This was the only process outlined in the report as opposed to the other statements, which were goals. It isn’t stated how they want to achieve these goals, just that they are working to achieve them. I am going to E-mail Nike and ask how they plan to achieve these goals, such as “zero excessive overtime identified in contract factories”. Why do they have to keep using these contract factories anyway – aren’t they making enough money to use factories inside the US?
1 response so far ↓
Andrea Skodje // March 29, 2008 at 2:15 am
I really like this post. I think it is important to bring up the fact that most people working in these factories are too afraid and oppressed to even dream of speaking out of the conditions in these factories! The workers are too afraid to say anything, because they do not want to lose their job because they know they can easily be replaced! Good blog!