Take the example of ONE and only one company- Indonesia, China, Vietnam, and Thailand- and they have other factories- yikes, we are bound up inextricably with other countries, and it is to our detriment not to realize it. We should be planning ahead, imo, taking into account our immense dependence on these other countries, because if something happens to world supply lines, global instability, for example, the Neocons will find out just how much of a community we are. And that's why we're "stabilizing" the ME, after all, we're looking to safeguard our supply to the black gold of the ME. Now the Neocons can deny that we're not part of a community, and they can say "no no no" but their actions say "oui oui oui":
For Release September 6, 2000
Washington, D.C. - Amidst the debate about working conditions in overseas manufacturing facilities, the workers themselves finally get a voice with the release of a comprehensive independent assessment of 3,800 Nike footwear and apparel workers in Vietnam and Thailand. The survey was conducted by the Global Alliance for Workers and Communities.
A picture of these workers' current concerns and hopes for the future emerges in the Global Alliance's newly-released annual report, the group's first since it was founded in April 1999. The report reveals results of 4,800 hours of quantitative and qualitative discussions with 3,800 workers in 12 Nike manufacturing facilities representing approximately 50,000 workers, nearly 8 percent of all Nike contract employees in Thailand and Vietnam. The Alliance is currently conducting an assessment in 17 factories representing approximately 60,000 workers in Indonesia, and one is about to start in China involving 11 factories and 75,000 workers.
The Global Alliance was created to improve the lives of young adult workers involved in manufacturing facilities that serve as the production centers for multi-national corporations. The group's vision is to maximize these workers' potential and to improve their lives, both in and outside of the workplace.
"This study is the first step in giving workers in developing countries a meaningful role in shaping their own future," said Kevin Quigley, executive director of the Global Alliance. "Our research is based on a unique, 'inside out' approach. We've gone into the factories and heard first-hand from the workers themselves what they - and their working conditions - are all about, as well as what they want for themselves, their families and their communities. Based on these assessments, we can now develop targeted programs to effectively address their concerns."
Among the findings:
Thailand:
Workers want job skills training, both traditional skills, and new skills such as communication and technology. Workers are anxious to resume their basic education, and they hope their children will attain higher education and professional levels than they have.
Workers would like to receive training in "life skills" such as parenting, as well as tools that would equip them for better jobs in the future.
71 percent rank their relationship with their supervisors as "good;" another 26 percent say it is "normal," yet poor communication with managers because of cultural differences was cited in the focus group interviews.
About 72 percent of the respondents think their current overall income is fair.
The majority of workers' income goes towards household expenses and 60 percent of workers regularly send/give money to their parents.
Among the benefits provided by the factories, workers consider these the most important (in order) - although food, transportation and uniforms need to be improved:
free annual physicals;
uniforms and clothing;
clinic and health service;
food at the canteen;
recreation and entertainment; and
transportation.
Vietnam:
Workers want better skills to expand future opportunities.
Female employees are more interested in developing tailoring or craft skills, while males want to gain more technical skills.
Approximately 85 percent of the workers surveyed are planning to continue working at their factories for at least the next three years. Respondents explain that it is quite difficult to find another job outside the factory, especially for older workers. Also, in comparison to farm work, factory jobs are more stable and generate higher income.
The vast majority of the workers, about 85 percent, feel safe working at the factory. The 15 percent who say they don't feel safe indicate they are concerned about job instability, polluted air or the factory equipment.
Despite the fact that workers feel there are areas of their factory life that need improvement, they still consider that, in general, their factory is a good place to work.
Methodology
In Thailand, from July to December 1999, the Chulalongkorn University Social Research Institute undertook an in-depth assessment of needs, assets and future aspirations of factory workers in five Thai footwear and apparel factories for the Global Alliance. From a total worker population of 9,177, they questioned 931 workers about their life and future goals and aspirations. An additional 220 workers participated in focus groups and in-depth interviews were conducted with 34 key individuals from factory management, welfare committees, union representatives and clinic staff. All told the GA's researchers put in more than 1,500 hours in the factories.
In Vietnam, from October 1999 to May 2000, the Center for Economic and Social Applications (CESAIS - now known as Troung Doan) undertook an in-depth assessment of the needs, assets and future aspirations of factory workers in seven footwear and apparel factories in Vietnam for the Global Alliance. During this period, 2,220 of a total of 40,737 workers were interviewed. In addition, more than 470 workers participated in focus group discussions and 14 key informant interviews were conducted. All told, the team put in approximately 3,300 hours of research in the factories.
"This is a long-term initiative, but we have made significant strides toward establishing a process that can be used in other countries to let workers speak out about the best way that factories can enhance their lives," said Rick R. Little, president and CEO of the International Youth Foundation.
Transparency
Part of the GA's charter is to be transparent - that is, the founding members wanted to be held accountable for results and to make those results in regular progress reports, as well as on the group's Web site.
The Global Alliance is in the process of prioritizing the needs identified by workers, reviewing the results with GA stakeholders, and then developing and implementing a new model for how global companies and NGOs can work together to respond to workers' needs. The initial programs on health - the key concern workers identified - will begin later this month.
The Global Alliance was founded to help improve the lives, workplace experience, and communities of workers in global manufacturing and service companies, as well as to promote collaboration among the private, nonprofit and public sectors in support of these efforts. The organization's primary goal is to build a sustainable worker assessment development process and the infrastructure to ensure its continuation.
Members of the Global Alliance include the Gap, Inc.; the International Youth Foundation; Nike, Inc. and the World Bank. Additional support is provided by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, Penn State University and St. John's University.
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