British NGO Oxfam claims international sportswear manufacturer Adidas has reneged on a promise to demand the reinstatement of 33 workers dismissed by an Indonesian supplier. "Adidas is the top sportswear sponsor at the World Cup," said Oxfam campaigner Kelly Dent. "But off the field the company deserves a red card for failing to support the human rights of workers. Oxfam has not seen any evidence that Adidas has put formal pressure on PT Panarub."
Adidas reportedly promised to formally pressure Panarub, after Indonesia's human rights commission ruled on 31 May, in a non-binding decision, that there were insufficient grounds to dismiss 33 workers after a one-day strike. William Anderson, Adidas's regional head of social and environmental affairs, insisted that the company had not altered its position. "We are continuing to support the [sacked] workers," he told John Aglionby of The Guardian (UK). "We have requested that the factory reinstate the workers and the factory has refused to act on our request."
He said Adidas was not willing to send Panarub, which supplies it with 650,000 pairs of shoes a year, a formal warning. "If we do and the company refuses to comply, we would have no choice but to terminate relations with them. Eleven thousand people could then lose their jobs."
Adidas reportedly promised to formally pressure Panarub, after Indonesia's human rights commission ruled on 31 May, in a non-binding decision, that there were insufficient grounds to dismiss 33 workers after a one-day strike. William Anderson, Adidas's regional head of social and environmental affairs, insisted that the company had not altered its position. "We are continuing to support the [sacked] workers," he told John Aglionby of The Guardian (UK). "We have requested that the factory reinstate the workers and the factory has refused to act on our request."
He said Adidas was not willing to send Panarub, which supplies it with 650,000 pairs of shoes a year, a formal warning. "If we do and the company refuses to comply, we would have no choice but to terminate relations with them. Eleven thousand people could then lose their jobs."