GAZZA AND LINFORD RUN RINGS ROUND THIRD WORLD WORKERS

( 27 november '95 - by Christian Aid -UK)

  Sports-shoe companies which pay millions of pounds for endorsements from stars such as Paul Gascoigne, Ryan Giggs and Linford Christie are shortchanging the Asian workers who make their shoes, according to a new 28-page report from Christian Aid.

"A typical pair of trainers sells for £50 in Britain," say Bethan Brookes and Peter Madden, authors of The Globe-Trotting Sports Shoe. "But the 40 or so factory workers in the Philippines who make the trainers will share just over £1 of that price between them. Billions are spent instead on marketing and product endorsement.

  "As the sales pressure mounts to buy the latest trainers this Christmas, we think it's time the companies producing them came under pressure to improve pay and conditions. I he £25 million deal with Reebok reputedly lined up by Liverpool Football Club recently would be enough to more than doubie the wages of the 40,000 workers who make Keebok trainers in China and the Philippines."

  The Globe-Trotting Sports Shoe focuses on Reebok, Nike, Puma, Adidas and Hi-Tec, the five biggest names in the UK sports-shoe market. It examines the companies' production through subcontractors in Thailand, China and the Philippines.

  Shoe manufacturing generates valuable jobs and money for these countries, but wages and working conditions often leave a lot to be desired. Among the abuses highlighted are forced overtime, health-and-safety deficiencies, discrimination against trade unions and the use of hire-and-fire policies to avoid paying fringe benefits.

  Christian Aid is asking supporters to write to the five companies urging them to pay higher wages and enforce codes of practice to improve factory conditions.

  "As a result we might see one advertisement fewer a week or a top sports personality may receive a few thousand pounds less," concede the authors. "But is this such a big price to pay?" ends.

  For more information, to order a press copy of the report or to arrange an interview with the authors, contact :

Martin Cottingham on 0171 620 4444 ext 2419 or 0181 473 3201 (home)
or
Catherine Matheson on ext 2416 or 0171-274 9359 (home).

NOTES TO EDITORS

The top sportsmen with lucrative endorsement deals have included Linford Christie and Colin Jackson (Puma); Paul Gascoigne (Adidas); Ian Wright, Eric Cantona and Andre Agassi (Nike); Roy Keane and Ian Woosnam (Hi lec) and Ryan Giggs (Reebok).

The report is available to the public at £3.50 including postage from Supporter Relations, Christian Aid, PO Box 100, London SE1 7RT (0171-620 4444).

MODEL CODE OF PRACTICE AS PROPOSED BY CHRISTIAN AID



    

  1. 
Freedom of association and collective bargaining: The supplier should allow workers to organise independently.
    



  2. Equality of treatment: Workers should have access to jobs and training on equal terms, irrespective of gender, age, race, colour, political opinion, religion or social origin. Physical harassment or psychological oppression, particularly of women workers, must not be tolerated.
    

  3. 

Wages: Pay should be in cash, direct to the workers, promptly and in full. Information relating to wages should be available to workers in an understandable form. Wages should exceed industry averages or legal minima and be at least sufficient for basic needs.
    

  4. 

Working hours: Normal hours should not exceed 48 per week. Overtime should be voluntary, should not exceed 12 hours per week and should be paid according to national legislation. Workers should have at least 24 consecutive hours of rest per week and at least three weeks of paid leave a year.
    

  5. 

Health and safety: Suppliers should provide free protective clothing and equipment, and comply with internationally  recognised health and safety standards. Workers and their organisations should be consulted, trained and allowed to investigate safety issues. Factories must have adequate fire exits and fire-prevention facilities. Dormitories, warehouses and workshops must be in separate buildings.
    

  6. 

Security of employment: Suppliers should endeavour to employ workers long-term on the basis of negotiated, legal, written contracts. Employers should give at least as much notice to employees as they demand from them. All the provisions of this code should apply to part-time, short-term and casual workers.
    

  7. 

Social security: Suppliers should ensure that workers are included in all appropriate state or private security provisions, especially invalidity benefit, injury benefit and old-age benefit.
    

  8. 

Employment of children: No children under l4 (or the legal minimum or school leaving age if higher) should be newly recruited. Children under 18 should not work at night or in hazardous conditions.
    

  9. 

Forced labour: No forced labour of any description should be used.
    

  10. 

Implementation: This code of practice should be monitored by an independent body trusted by all parties. Worker representatives should be involved in the development of standards appropriate to the local situation and in the verification process. It should be transIated into local languages and prominently displayed in the place of work.
    






Christian  Aid

PO Box 100 London SE1 7RT





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