Women at sewing machines representing exploited faceless workers

In what is being billed as the biggest anti-sweatshop mobilisation ever, the Clean Clothes Campaign, Global Unions and Oxfam are challenging the IOC and sportswear companies to accept their responsibility to stop the exploitation of workers producing the sportswear that is marketed through the Olympic Games.

On August 10 a large group of faceless activists working at sewing machines on a rooftop in the centre of Athens, with the Acropolis as the backdrop, will draw attention to the plight of exploited faceless workers.

In March 2004 the coalition launched a campaign on abuse and exploitation of sportswear workers entitled Play Fair at the Olympics. Research revealed inadequate wages, high levels of compulsory overtime, impossibly high work targets, denial of workers’ rights, sexual harassment and verbal abuse in the sportswear industry world wide.

Hundreds of organisations have participated in the campaign in over 35 countries. There were more than 500 local events and more than half a million signatures have been collected in support of the campaign. Supporters included Olympians like Spanish cyclist Miquel Indurain, Canadian middle distance runner Bruce Kidd, US hammer thrower Kevin McMahon, Spanish synchronised swimmer Gemma Mengual, Australian swimmer Sarah Houbolt, Dutch long distance runner Kamiel Maase and the French World Cup soccer player Didier Deschamps.

Several sports brands (Nike, adidas, Reebok and Puma) have responded to campaign proposals to bring labour abuses across the sportswear sector to an end. They confirm the importance of respecting workers’ rights and have shown willingness to work on several areas outlined in the proposals. Other highlighted companies and the industry association representing the sporting goods companies globally have been slower to respond.

The IOC however is refusing either to take any moral leadership on the issue, or to take responsibility for workers’ rights in Olympic sponsorship and licensing programs at global, national and games level. Furthermore it is refusing to accept the more than half a million signatures in Athens.

Workers, researchers and activists from Indonesia, India and Turkey and spokespersons from Clean Clothes Campaign, Global Unions and Oxfam are available for interviews in Athens Aug 7 - 13.

For more information and requests for interviews:
Annette Rayer, press officer Oxfam, tel: + 31 6 5156 8878 (English, Dutch, German)
Barbara Kwateng, press officer Global Unions, tel: + 32 476 621 018 (English, German)
Magali Audion, press officer CCC, tel: + 33 671 21 26 82 (French)
Javier Herrero, press officer Oxfam, tel: + 34 6 15 35 94 01 (Spanish)

Recent research on labour conditions in the sportswear industry in Indonesia and detailed information about the steps taken by sportswear companies and the IOC are available.