Photos of workers and their workplaces in the sportswear industry and Olympic supply chains.
Yue Wing Cheong dormitory. Typically eight workers share one room. Yue Wing Cheong is one of the factories mentioned in the 2007 report 'No Medal for the Olympics on labour rights.' Researchers found that Yue Wing Cheong had no respect for its workers' rights, nor their safety.

Yue Wing Cheong dormitory
Hermosa Manufacturing worker and child, El Salvador, 2006. Workers at this Nike, adidas and Puma supplier campaigned for years to get the money and benefits owed to them after the factory closed its doors in 2005. (USAS photo)

Hermosa Manufacturing worker and child
A Kuan Ho Sporting Goods worker getting water from a hawker after buying food at lunchtime, Dongguan, China. (November 2007) Kuan Ho is reportedly the biggest soccer ball manufacturer in China, for brands such as adidas, Lotto, Mizuno and Mikasa.

A Kuan Ho Sporting Goods worker
SBGTS union leader involved in the struggle to get payments and jobs for laid off workers from PT Spotec, an adidas supplier that closed in 2006, leaving thousands jobless. Though there are plans to reopen the factory under new ownership, with a guarantee of orders from adidas, so far there has been no committment to rehire the laid off workers.

SBGTS union leader
Following a long struggle to win unionization, better wages and improved conditions at this Korean-owned factory that produced caps for Nike and Reebok, resources were shifted to the owner’s Asian factories where workers do not have unions, sportswear buyers reduced their orders and in 2007 the factory shut down. (Photo: USAS, 2004)

Dominican Republic (low res.)
Workers resting outside the Kuan Ho Sporting Goods factory, an adidas supplier where on average workers put in 80 overtime hours per month. (November 2007)

Workers resting outside the Kuan Ho Sporting Goods
At adidas supplier PT Panarub, in Indonesia, workers were fired for participating in a strike. Obstacles to freedom of association is one of the main challenges in the sportswear industry today

PT. Panarub workfloor
At adidas supplier PT Panarub, in Indonesia, workers were fired for participating in a strike. Obstacles to freedom of association is one of the main challenges in the sportswear industry today

PT. Panarub workfloor
Indonesian factory worker housing. Despite more than a decade of “codes of conduct” the sportswear industry still doesn’t pay a living wage and workers still live in poverty.

Indonesian factory worker housing
Three workers from Kuan Ho Sporting Goods, having lunch outside factory building. Workers at this adidas supplier are not paid overtime according to the law. (November 2007)

Three workers from Kuan Ho Sporting Goods
Main entrance with recruitment banner at Joyful Long Sports factory, a Dongguan, China supplier of soccer balls to brands such as Nike, Umbro, Fila and Puma, where most workers work seven days a week. (March 2008)

Joyful Long Sports factory
 
 
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