Nike Ceases Orders for Soccer Balls from Pakistan

Monday November 20, 2006 1:36pm

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Beaverton, Ore. (AP) - Nike Inc. is ending orders from a Pakistan-based supplier of hand-stitched soccer balls, Saga Sports, because of "significant" labor violations.

The decision to end its relationship with Saga followed a six-month investigation.

"This contract factory has persistently broken its commitments and irrevocably breached its trust with us; most importantly, the factory has failed its employees," said Nike CEO and president Mark Parker.

Nike, the world's largest maker of athletic apparel, said Saga Sports was having soccer balls made inside private homes in Sialkot, Pakistan, where Saga is based.

"Nike has a long-standing policy against such practices because of the potential for using under-aged workers and the inability to ensure safe working conditions in home-based settings," the company said.

Nike said its investigation also uncovered "serious allegations by trade union representatives and other Saga employees of worker harassment, wrongful termination and inaccurate payment of wages."

It said the Fair Labor Association, in an unannounced audit of Saga unrelated to Nike's investigation, found similar violations.

According to Nike, it held repeated meetings with Saga executives to correct the problems but "Saga did not make needed changes."

The company said it is working with "governmental, non-governmental and industry stakeholders" to help protect the rights of Saga workers.

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