Nike Position Paper

The Nike Corporation

Over the years, the topic of how the Nike Corporation treats their workers and employees has become quite the controversial issue. Many people who buy Nike products do not know where their products have been and who has made them in the first place. On the other hand, many people have decided to boycott the Nike Corporation as a result of finding out how the products were made. My position on the topic would be to boycott Nike products until the way their employees are treated and work environments are corrected and improved.

Nike employees are forced to work in harsh and hazardous working spaces with little medical treatment provided when needed. There are many reports that employees do not have gloves, masks or any other protective gear when dealing with harsh chemicals in Nike factories. Along with health hazards, there are also many counts of verbal and physical abuse that are stowed upon lesser employees from those in higher positions. One worker at the Taiwanese-operated Pou Chen plant in Sukabumi said a supervisor kicked her last year after making a mistake while cutting rubber for soles. Others have said that they have been called “pigs, dogs, and monkey’s”. Things like sick leaves, or any excuses that result in missing work usually lead to being fired on the spot.

Another big issue that has been brought up in this topic is children working in the factories and being exposed to the same hazards that the adults are being exposed