Adidas and London Olympics in Sweatshop Scandal

Exclusive to the Independent. Big story.

www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/exposed-the-reality-behind-londons-ethical-olympics-7644013.html

www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/factory-workers-are-forced-to-lie-during-adidas-safety-inspections-7644018.html


"Olympic-branded gear – to be worn by British athletes and Games volunteers – is being manufactured for Adidas in sweatshop conditions in Indonesia, making a mockery of claims by London 2012 organisers that this summer's Games will be the most ethical ever.

With just over 100 days to go before the Games begin, an investigation by The Independent has uncovered widespread violations of workers' rights in Indonesia, where nine locally owned and managed factories have been contracted to produce Olympic shoes and clothing for Adidas – the official sportswear partner of London 2012 and of the British team."

 

Yet we demonize Dwyane Wade for saying the participating athletes should be compensated for their time.

 

Is it too late to hand the Olympics to Paris? Between that and this: http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2012/apr/13/olympics-2012-branding-police-sponsors

 

What do we expect from a movement that the Chinese embraced so wholeheartedly they imprisoned its own citizens for daring to make any sort of protest, even when their property was seized?

http://www.thestar.com/news/world/article/350435--china-slams-jail-door-on-olympic-dissent

 

This isn't the least bit surprising -- Adidas is just one of many.
http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/editorschoice/us-university-pressures-indonesian-companies-to-compensate-workers/498318

What the Independent articles don't say is that by Indonesian law, the safety inspections are required to be carried out by Indonesian inspectors. That makes it all the easier to "convince" someone to look the other way should something inconvenient come up despite the factory's best preparations.

 

Don't fuck with Bucky.

 

A shoe company operating a sweatshop? I'm shocked!

 

I think this will be met with a collective yawn.

 

Is there a chance that what we call sweatshops are business as usual in those countries?

 

It's not business as usual here. Even if the pay isn't great for most factory workers, 65-hour weeks and locking workers in closets is far outside the norm.

 

In America? Maybe.