67 Vietnamese factories, supplying Nike with footwear and clothing, allegedly pay workers 48 to 69 cents/hour. While the “average customs value of the Nike sneakers is just $5.27 per pair”, Nike shoes “sell in the U.S. from $60 to $120 to well past $200”
“Both hands must be constantly moving.” 12 to 13-plus hour shifts in near freezing conditions, earning as little as $1.36 an hour. Fumes from chemicals including industrial alcohol, phenylenediamine and sodium peroxide cause nausea, dizziness and headaches.
Two investigations throughout 2013-2014 find labor violations at factory (20,000 workers) including: excessive overtime nearly 100 hours/month, hazardous waste poured into a nearby river, unsafe working environment. Catcher workers have “suffered skin and eye irritation, and are at risk for more serious health problems” making tablet computers, smartphones and laptops.
Despite the 11.5 hour work shifts in Chang’ an Mattel Toy Factory, workers only receive a 30 minute meal break. Overtime reaching nearly three times the legal limit.
Over exhausted workforce sleeping next to machines in the workshop. Their safety “equipment distributed is insufficient”. On the day of the investigation “a worker’s hand was smashed by a pressing machine”.
Fingers crushed and other hand injuries occur in Linkfair factory where workers toil with limited occupational safety. “During high season, workers will have a shift every day of the month without rest, including daily overtime (accumulating between 124 – 154 hours/month, between three and four times the Chinese legal maximum). “When the factory is unable to pay insurance, management will give workers 100 RMB ($16) to lie to government inspectors.”
