That’s the pitiful amount workers are paid to make them, less than the living wage. Has football ever seen such cynical profiteering?
many women faint because they are tired – it happens all the time.
‘ I keep struggling on so I can support my children and just pray that they will not have the same life as their mother.’
Another worker said: ‘We have really difficult targets to meet and if we don’t meet them we get sworn and shouted at by our supervisor.
‘Each worker must produce 60 shirts an hour – which is difficult but sometimes that is raised to 100 shirts an hour. If we can’t meet the target the supervisor shouts, “What the f*** is wrong with you?”
‘I had no idea these shirts were sold for so much money. One week’s salary for one of these players is more than the month’s salary for our entire factory. It makes me sick.’
The factory employs about 1,100 workers, of whom 90 per cent are women. Typically, they start at 7am and finish at 4pm. Many choose to supplement their salary by working until 6pm.
A sewing machine operator said: ‘The money is so low that sometimes I have to take out loans in order to survive the month.
‘But the loans have huge interest – as much as 30 per cent – so that makes it even harder for me the next month.’ Local trade unionist Yim Serey Vathanak said: ‘These workers are living in poverty and are just about getting by.
‘Instead of Adidas and Manchester United earning huge profits, they should be passing on the money to the people who are breaking their backs on their behalf.’
Adidas defended its treatment of workers, saying the factory meets 20 out of 21 compliance requirements. It said: ‘Adherence to fair and safe working conditions and fair wages throughout our supply chain is an integral part of Adidas’s business policy and part of the contractual agreements with our suppliers.
‘ Based on information of hundreds of annual factory audits and i ndependent and unannounced assessments of this specific factory, we have no evidence that supports the allegations made.’
Manchester United said: ‘ The production of our world-famous kit is overseen by our partner Adidas. We are confident in Adidas’s ability to fully investigate these allegations and determine whether any action is necessary.’