Dear NikeWatch Supporter

This month we introduce you to some solutions we have formulated to address systemic problems in the Indonesia apparel and footwear industry, there is a great role play resource from the initiative 'fashioning an ethical industry' and a report on a recent adidas action in Melbourne.

Oxfam Australia’s labour rights team has developed a set of solutions to encourage sportswear brands and their buyers to resolve some serious labour rights problems reoccurring in Indonesia.

These problems include:
• Factory closures and mass dismissals (thousands of workers are often dumped without back pay or compensation when factories close and the factory owners sometimes flee the country leaving no money to pay workers)
• Obstacles to freedom of association (workers are often intimidated when they join the union of their choice and sometimes fired for joining a union), thus preventing them having a voice to claim their rights
• Abuse of short term labour (many workers who should legally be permanent, full time employees are illegally kept on short term contacts meaning they have no job security and don’t get same benefits as permanent workers). Short term contracts either severely limit or effectively prevent workers organising.

In an attempt to tackle these systemic problems we have created a set of broad solutions which we will ask brands to follow when they are placing orders into new factories. 

Sector Wide Solutions for Indonesian PDF   The Oxfam Australia Labour Rights team has been uncovering and taking action on labour rights abuses and educating the public about conditions in sportswear factories for the last 10 years. During the last five years of supporting workplace campaigns in Indonesia we have witnessed the reoccurrence of several fundamental problems. Our solutions have been formulated together with the Clean Clothes Campaign and after years of discussions with unions, non-government organisations, labour lawyers, worker organisations, government agencies, institutions (like the ILO), factory managers and apparel buyers and retailers. We will continue to work on a case by case basis on specific workplace campaigns where workers are fighting for their rights such as back pay, severance and right to be represented by a union ( eg. Spotec, Dong Joe, BPG, Panarub cases). We aim to see brands and their buyers put in place practices that will stop these problems from arising in the first place. 

Fashioning an ethical industry is an exciting new initiative by Labour Behind the label with an engaging website. Fashioning an Ethical Industry works with tutors and students on fashion-related courses in the UK to give an overview of how the fashion industry can positively and negatively impact on the working conditions in garment manufacture and to inspire students - as the next generation of industry players - to raise standards for workers in the fashion industry of the future.
Their website has some great, free resources including a role play which explores how the decisions made by different actors within the fashion supply chain impact on working conditions in garment manufacture. It has been designed for students on fashion related courses such as; buying, design, business and merchandising. The role play can be used with students from a range of different levels.

Fashioning an Ethical Industry       Labour Behind the Label

In October Oxfam Australia held a conference to introduce people to Oxfam partners and our work. The event was a stakeholders' forum, bringing together Oxfam members, supporters, donors, activists, partners and staff to examine the new Oxfam Australia strategic plan, its relevance and practicality and to discuss ways in which we can make it happen.

The major theme was active citizenship and there was a stall with information and action materials about adidas’ practices. Ninety people signed and drew their footprint on letters to adidas adding to the hundreds who have already written to adidas about their buying practices.

You will have noticed this is our second month of sending you our NikeWatch newsletter in HTML format. Thank you very much for all your patience while we went through some hiccups over the last few months. We would love to hear from you about what you think of this new look and tell us if you are having any problems accessing the newsletter.