Dear NikeWatch Supporter

Happy New Year from NikeWatch Team. In this first edition for 2008 we take a look at developments with G-STAR, give you an update about adidas in Indonesia and introduce you to an ethical, Australian clothing company we hope you will support.

Last month we called on you to write to G-Star. G-Star is the main client of FFI/JKPL who is suing human rights activists from the Clean Clothes Campaign (CCC), the India Committee of the Netherlands (ICN), and internet service provider Antenna for disseminating information about labour rights violations.

G-Star wrote back to Oxfam Australia on 3rd January saying that, whilst G-Star is withdrawing from the FFI/JKPL factory, their existing orders will probably last until mid-2008.  G-Star indicated that all advice they receive from Oxfam Australia and others will be taken into account when they are developing a responsible exit strategy from the factory. The concern remains that FFI/JKPL employees who will lose their jobs, are supported to find new jobs at other G-Star supplier factories.  Oxfam Australia will shortly respond to G-Star with suggestions for how G-Star can ensure that workers are not abandoned without jobs following G-Stars withdrawal.

More information at www.cleanclothes.org

Adidas had recently promised a fair and transparent process for the recruitment of Spotec workers, who lost their jobs, into the new adidas supplier factory (Ching Luh) in Indonesia. It now appears that the recruitment process for these workers is seriously flawed.
The ex-Spotec workers did not receive the news from the factory that they had an interview and so missed their opportunity to get a new job.

Act today to tell adidas that they must ensure that these workers who have been left without jobs since last November are given full and fair prioritisation at the new supplier factory. 

Send adidas a message

An Australian manufacturer, Rise Up Productions, has become accredited to the Australian Homeworkers Code of Practice (NoSweatShop Label). You can buy online to support this environmental and socially responsible, Australian company.

The owner of Rise Up Productions approached Oxfam Australia and FairWear who guided the company towards organic cotton and NoSweatShop accreditation. This was to ensure that the company’s Australian made products are certified as made under fair conditions. In Australia women working from home are often exploited earning as little as $3 an hour.

Rise up sells T-Shirts, Singlets and Pyjamas that are made from organic cotton and carry the NoSweatShop Label. A percentage of proceeds from the sale of their lounge/pyjama pants go to Oxfam Australia.

Check out Rise Up products For Sale