NIKPRS~1.text is a Nike Inc. file and part of nikeworkers.com series ; created Friday, June 19, 1998 5:38:16 PM; last modified Saturday, February 14, 1998 3:03:10 PM ; saved by D. Boje as NIKprSep1697 (file origins).

NIKE issues cards in 11 languages as part of its fulfillment program related to Ambassador Andrew Young’s report on labor practices

Beaverton, Oregon (September 16, 1997) ...Further asserting its leadership among global consumer product companies with extensive contract factory networks, NIKE, Inc. today began issuing wallet-sized Code of Conduct card in the native languages of its workers and managers. Over 100,000 NIKE footwear contract factory workers in Asia, will be among the first to receive the cards during the next few months. The dual-sided, laminated cards will serve to inform workers of their rights and benefits in the areas of health, safety compensation and wages.

Symbolically, the card represents one of the first key initiatives NIKE has implemented in response to recommendations by former UN Ambassador Andrew Young. Ambassador Young issued a report (Report On the NIKE Code Of Conduct – June,1997) containing several findings and recommendations designed to further enhance existing labor practices initiatives within the company.

"Since 1994, NIKE has had independent auditors test factory compliance with our Code of Conduct. From Ambassador Young’s report, it became clear that while management often clearly understood our Code, many workers did not," stated NIKE President and Chief Operating Officer Thomas E. Clarke. "The Code of Conduct card became an immediate priority, serving to directly inform our workers of their rights in the workplace and how we -- and our business partners -- have pledged to uphold them."

NIKE’s Code of Conduct is the basis of the relationship between NIKE, plant ownership, management and workers -- all of whom may speak different languages.

The pocket-sized card features NIKE’s Code of Conduct and health and safety tips in 11 languages -- (English, Vietnamese, Thai, Bahasa Indonesian, simplified Chinese characters, complex Chinese characters, Hindi, Urdu, Korean, Spanish and Tagalog).

Moving beyond Young’s initial recommendation,NIKE is redoubling its efforts to ensure that poster-sized versions of the Code are posted in prominent and visible places on the factory floors in every language needed, and, as well, to assure the factories provide Code training for all managers and employees, with NIKE's assistance.

Additionally, NIKE's worldwide auditor's manual has been amended to include a test of how well managers and workers understand NIKE’s Code. "This will ensure that managers realize they are accountable for workers’ knowledge of the Code and that independent auditors can gauge the level of understanding throughout the factory commented Dusty Kidd, Director of NIKE’s Labor Practices Department.

NIKE’s Code of Conduct states that we are committed to the promotion of best practices and continuous improvement in:

Occupational health and safety, compensation, hours of work and benefits. Minimizing our impact on the environment.

Management practices that recognize the dignity of the individual, the rights of the free association and collective bargaining, and the right to a workplace free of harassment, abuse and/or corporal punishment.

The principle that decisions on hiring, salary, benefits, advancement,

termination or retirement are based solely on the ability of an individual to do his/her job.

To date, NIKE has already reinforced implementation of the Code of Conduct and its monitoring principles by conducting eight weeks of training for NIKE production people and contract factory management in Asia, in 11 countries and 16 cities.

Ambassador Young Recommendations

NIKE is currently taking action above and beyond Young’s recommendations to further strengthen the awareness and enforcement of its Code of Conduct. To date, NIKE has:

adopted a termination policy for contractors who consistently and egregiously violate the Code and do not respond to corrective actions;

established and informed factories of penalties for violations of the Code;

implemented cultural and management training for factory and NIKE

production management; established U.S. corporate training for new NIKE expatriate production managers;

and begun assessing contractors' host country managers programs.

NIKE Initiatives

This card marks yet another leading initiative of the sports company in regards to labor practices. Examples of NIKE’s leadership on this issue include the following:

In 1992 NIKE wrote the sporting goods industry’s first Code of Conduct.

Since 1994 NIKE has had independent auditors test factory compliance with its Code of Conduct and initiated ongoing, rigorous third party independent monitoring and audits.

In 1996 NIKE established a labor practices department. NIKE has over

1,000 production personnel in contract factories every day working to monitor and, when needed, improve labor conditions.

In August 1996 NIKE was the first company to join President Clinton’s

Coalition on Fair Labor Practices. NIKE pledged to abide by the Apparel

Industry Partnership’s Workplace Code of Conduct, modifying our own to conform, and further pledged to help the industry eradicate sweatshops in the

United States and abroad.

In 1997, NIKE retained Ambassador Andrew Young to conduct independent assessment of NIKE’s code.

In 1997, NIKE issued the sporting goods industry’s first Code of Conduct card for distribution to management and workers in 11 languages.

In 1997, NIKE conducted eight weeks of training in 16 Asian cities to

reinforce the Code of Conduct for production workers and contract factory management.

In 1997, NIKE added Code of Conduct comprehension requirements to its

corporate audit manual developed by Price Waterhouse.

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