Adidas Olympic gear made in Indonesian sweatshops, report claims
Athletes at the official British team kit launch for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games on Mar. 22, 2012 in London. Now a British newspaper is claiming the uniforms were made in Indonesian sweatshops.
The German sportswear manufacturer Adidas is looking into allegations that uniforms for the 2012 London Olympics have been made in Indonesian sweatshops.
The Independent newspaper claims that it has uncovered "widespread violations of workers' rights" at nine Indonesian factories contracted to make shoes and clothing for the British athletes and Olympic Games volunteers.
It says that female staff at the factories claimed to work up to 65 hours a week for as little as 50 Us cents an hour, endured verbal and physical abuse and were punished for not reaching production targets. It describes how the women skipped meals to save money and were forced to send their children away to be taken care of by grandparents.
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London Olympics organizers are said to be taking the allegations "extremely seriously", according to AFP.
"We place a high priority on environmental, social and ethical issues when securing goods and services and take these allegations extremely seriously," a spokeswoman for the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games (LOCOG) was quoted as saying by The Guardian.
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The Commission for a Sustainable London 2012, the body responsible for monitoring ethical practices relating to the Games was said to be "deeply concerned" by the report, said the Bangkok Post.
The Commission's chairman Shaun McCarthy reportedly said that the LOCOG should make its investigation into the issues a priority and "act accordingly to protect workers' rights and improve working conditions".
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