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Soccer Balls - Footnotes

1 For example, see Eye to Eye with Connie Chung , Roberta Baskin, reporter, CBS News (April 6, 1995); JonathanSilvers, "Child Labor in Pakistan," The Atlantic Monthly (February 1996); Sydney H. Schanberg, "Six Cents andHour," Life Magazine (June 1996). In 1995, local manufacturers began posting workshop notices indicating theirintent to refuse to do business with workshops employing children. These notices were posted next to affidavitsof the workshop owners themselves claiming they were not employing children. Nonetheless, children were stillfound in these workshops. Child Labour in Pakistan 1995 (Lahore: Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, 1995)10 [hereinafter HRCP Report].

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2 See "Statement of Secretary of Labor Robert B. Reich, 'FoulBall Campaign' Press Conference," (June 28, 1996).The FoulBall campaign is coordinated by the International Labor Rights Fund in cooperation with a network oflabor, consumer, religious, sports and child advocacy groups. The campaign sought to replace child soccer ballstitchers with adults and see that children attend school. The FoulBall campaign also sought to persuade theInternational Federation of Football Associations (FIFA) to require a verifiable "no child labor" clause in thecontract of every producer of a ball that carries the FIFA stamp of approval.

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3 In February 1997, an agreement was reached between the industry, the ILO, and UNICEF to remove childrenfrom the soccer ball industry, provide them with educational opportunities and created internal and externalmonitoring systems. Over 50 Pakistani soccer ball manufacturers and U. S. importers have signed on to theagreement, known as the "Partners' Agreement to Eliminate Child Labor in the Soccer Ball Industry in Pakistan"(Partners' Agreement). Additional information on the Partners' Agreement is found in Section E. 1. infra. See also"Sporting Goods Industry Partners' with Children's and Human Rights Groups to End Child Labor in Pakistan'sSoccer Ball Industry," joint news release of the World Federation of Sporting Goods Industry, the Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association, and the Soccer Industry Council of America (February 14, 1997) [on file]; "ILO UnitesWith Industry Groups to Combat Child Labour," International Labor Organization press release (February 14,1997); and "Labor Department to Fund Elimination of Child Labor in Soccer Ball Industry," U. S. Department ofLabor, Bureau of International Labor Affairs news release (February 13, 1997).

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4 Dear Colleague letter from Peter Moore, Senior Vice President, Global Soccer/ Rugby Division, Reebok Interna-tional Ltd. (June 12, 1996) [on file] [hereinafter Reebok Letter to Colleagues].

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5 Letter from Brad G. Figel, Nike Director of Governmental Affairs and International Trade Counsel, to Secretaryof Labor Robert B. Reich (June 27, 1996) [on file].

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6 Marius Schneider, "Tough Job: Keeping Up with the Rules," FIFA Magazine (April 1996) 1.

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7 Paul Gardner, The Simplest Game: The Intelligent Fan's Guide to the World of Soccer (1994).

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8 "U. S. Soccer Registration, 1980- 1996," Soccer in the USA , Soccer Industry Council of America (Winter 1997).

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9 Imports for Consumption, 1989- 1996 (Washington, DC: U. S. Department of Commerce, 1997). Data for earlieryears are not available.

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10 Id.

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11 Interview with U. S. International Trade Commission specialist by U. S. Department of Labor officials (February26, 1997).

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12 Synthetic leathers used are made from polyurethane or polyvinyl chloride. In general, real leather is not usedsince it absorbs water and can affect play on a wet field.

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13 Machine- molded balls — which are not stitched — are considered to be of lower quality and are out of thescope of this study.

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14 Based on results of survey and interviews by U. S. Department of Labor officials during site visits.

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15 In India and Pakistan, the contractors typically employ cutters, quality inspectors, and packers on their premises. In the majority of cases, the contractors also employ individual subcontractors to distribute soccer ball kitsto stitchers in nearby villages, who work out of their own homes. In contrast, in China, most persons interviewed indicate that soccer ball production takes place primarily in the factory, with little subcontracting or homework reported.

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16 This was first brought to the attention of the U. S. Department of Labor in 1994. See Memorandum from KailashSatyarthi, Chairperson, South Asian Coalition on Child Servitude (SACCS), to Sonia Rosen, Director, Child LaborStudy (June 13, 1994) [on file]. See also A Brief Report on Activities of SACCS- BBA Covering May to September 1996(undated) 8 [on file].

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17 HRCP Report at 12.

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18 An Assessment of the Working Child in the Soccer Ball Industry, Sialkot (Lahore: Raasta Development Consult-ants for the Soccer Industry Council of America, June 1996) 42 [hereinafter Raasta Report]; HRCP Report at 6.Recent reports indicate that production may be extending beyond the Sialkot area to Sargaho, Gujranwala, Narowal,Jhelum and Shakapura. Interview with the Democratic Commission for Human Development by U. S. Departmentof Labor official (June 14, 1997); Stitching footballs: voices of children in Sialkot, Pakistan (London: The Save theChildren Fund - UK, May 1997) 14 [hereinafter Save the Children Report]; Interview with Pharis Harvey, ExecutiveDirector, International Labor Rights Fund, by U. S. Department of Labor official (September 19, 1997).

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19 "Sporting Goods Industry Partners with Children's and Human Rights Groups to End Child Labor in Pakistan'sSoccer Ball Industry," joint news release of the World Federation of Sporting Goods Industry, the Sporting GoodsManufacturers Association, and the Soccer Industry Council of America (February 14, 1997)[ on file]; N. Vasukirao,"Analysts Question Pakistan's Child Labor Plan," Journal of Commerce (July 16, 1996)

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20 Raasta Report at 5.

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21 HRCP Report at 9.

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22 Id. at 10.

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23 Directorate of Labour Welfare and the International Programme for the Elimination of Child Labour (IPEC),Child Labour in the Football Manufacturing Industry (Geneva: International Labour Organization, December1996) iv [hereinafter IPEC Soccer Ball Report]. The Constitution of Pakistan (1973) prohibits employment ofchildren age 14 and below in factories, mines and other hazardous occupations. The Employment of Children Act(1991) and the Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act (1992) aim at providing protection to children from exploi-tation, including bondage. Pakistani law does not prohibit nor regulate children stitching soccer balls at home orin small shops.

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24 IPEC Soccer Ball Report at iv.

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25 Raasta Report at 24. See also Save the Children Report at 16; IPEC Soccer Ball Report at iv.

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26 IPEC Soccer Ball Report at 22.

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27 Raasta Report at x.

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28 Raasta Report at x.

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29 IPEC Soccer Ball Report at v.

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30 Raasta Report at viii.

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31 IPEC Soccer Ball Report at v.

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32 Id. at 15.

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33 Id. at 19.

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34 Raasta Report at 32.

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35 HRCP Report at 8.

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36 Save the Children Report at 7.

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37 Raasta Report at ix; Save the Children Report at 20; IPEC Soccer Ball Report at 22. The loans were for between1,000 and 5,000 Pakistani rupees, or about $25 to $125. Raasta Report at ix.

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38 Save the Children Report at 20.

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39 A Sporting Chance: Tackling Child Labour in India's Sports Goods Industry (London: Christian Aid, 1997) 31[hereinafter A Sporting Chance].

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40 Pharis J. Harvey and Lauren Riggin, Trading Away the Future: Child Labor in India's Export Industries (Wash-ington, DC: International Labor Rights Education and Research Fund, May 1994) 90.

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41 "Child Labour in Sports Industry," The Sportsgoods Manufacturers and Exporters Association, press release(undated), given to U. S. Department of Labor official (June 4, 1997)[ on file].

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42 A Sporting Chance at 4.

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43 Id. at 4. Employment estimates for soccer ball production alone are not available.

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44 Id. at 5. The Christian Aid Report caught the attention of the British public in June 1997 by publishing anaccount of an 11 year- old girl stitching a soccer ball bearing the picture of British soccer hero Eric Cantona and thelogo of his club, Manchester United. Christian Aid accused Manchester United of selling such balls stitched bychildren in their official souvenir shop. The young girl, the sole wage earner for her family, was reportedly paid7 Indian rupees (or $0.20) for stitching the ball sold in England for £9.99. See A Sporting Chance at 9- 10; CharlesReiss, "Labour pledges to fight child slavery," Evening Standard (May 12, 1997).

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45 A Sporting Chance at 8.

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46 Id. at 10.

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47 Id. at 6.

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48 Id. at 9.

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49 "Letter from the President," WFSGI Sportshop News Bulletin (January/ February 1997) 3.

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50 Id.

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51 Id.

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52 Id.

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53 International Child Labor Hearing , U. S. Department of Labor (April 18, 1997) (Written statement of ReebokInternational, Ltd.) [Hereinafter Reebok testimony].

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54 Reebok Letter to Colleagues. Reebok cautions that its experiment of placing child labor labels on its soccerballs is an extraordinary response to an extraordinary set of circumstances. Thus, its labeling system would notapply to other Reebok products. Reebok testimony at 8.

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55 According to Peter Moore, Reebok's Senior Vice President, Global Soccer/ Rugby Division, his company was"literally bombarded" by telephone calls and letters from U. S. consumers concerned that their soccer balls werebeing stitched by underage children. See Tim Shorrock, "Reebok readies first shipments with rights labels," TheJournal of Commerce (April 21, 1997) 3A.

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56 Reebok testimony at 8.

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57 "Dear Friend" letter from Peter Moore, Senior Vice President, Global Soccer/ Rugby, Reebok International Ltd.(April 28, 1997) [on file] [hereinafter "Dear Friend" Letter].

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58 Interview with Peter Moore, Senior Vice President, Global Soccer/ Rugby Division, Reebok International Ltd., byU. S. Department of Labor official (April 18, 1997).

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59 Tim Shorrock, "Reebok readies first shipments with rights labels," Journal of Commerce (April 21, 1997) 3A.

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60 Reebok testimony at 7. They are Arshid Mehmood Mirza, a member of the Human Rights Commission ofPakistan and founding member of Rifahi Committee Roras, a rural development agency operating since 1971, andShakoo Abdul Mirza, Executive Director of the Community Development Center, an organization dedicated toimproving socio- economic conditions for people living in the rural areas of the Punjab.

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61 Id. Lahore- based Ford, Rhodes, Robson, Morrow (FRRM) is an affiliate of the U. S. accounting firm Ernst &Young.

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62 Id.

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63 Id.

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64 Id. See also "Dear Friend" Letter.

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65 Interview with Doug Cahn, Director, Human Rights Programs, Reebok International Ltd., by U. S. Department ofLabor official (August 12, 1997).

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66 Interview with Ijaz Ahmed, FRRM, by U. S. Department of Labor official (June 14, 1997).

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67 Report of Doug Cahn, Director, Human Rights Programs, Reebok International Ltd., on Human Rights Monitor-ing of Soccer Ball Facility (August 13, 1997) [on file] [hereinafter Reebok Human Rights Report].

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68 Report of Human Rights Monitors on Production of Reebok Soccer Balls and Reebok Response, March 1, 1997- July 31, 1997 [on file] [hereinafter Report of Human Rights Monitors].

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69 On a visit to the Moltex facility on June 13, 1997, a U. S. Department of Labor official also observed other ballsin the factory.

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70 Reebok Human Rights Report. Moltex's commercial director told a U. S. Department of Labor official thatexclusive production for Reebok would start on or about August 1, 1997. Interview with Javed Iqbal by U. S.Department of Labor official (June 13, 1997).

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71 Reebok Human Rights Report.

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72 The first step of Reebok's Pakistan Education Project — a feasibility study — has now been completed. SeeReebok testimony at 7. As of the end of July, the program to keep children in school had not yet begun, althoughReebok had reportedly transferred payment for the rental of and renovation of space. Work is continuing on thedesign of a specialized curriculum that will be developmentally appropriate for the age group 9-13. (This is thegroup identified as most vulnerable in terms of leaving school and not returning; most of the children foundstitching balls were also in this age group.) Reebok hopes to start the program in the fall of 1997. Interview withDoug Cahn, Director, Human Rights Programs, Reebok International Ltd., by U. S. Department of Labor official (July 28, 1997).

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73 General letter from E. C. Schindler, President, Baden Sports, Inc. (June 1, 1997) [on file] [hereinafter Schindlerletter.].

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74 See Response of Baden Sports, Inc. to Department of Labor voluntary questionnaire (June 2, 1997)[ on file].

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75 Schindler letter.

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76 Interview with James Chan, Baden Asia representative, by U. S. Department of Labor official (June 16, 1997).

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77 "Baden Sports Joins Forces Against Child and Slave Labor," Baden Sports press release (February 28, 1997).

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78 Id.

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79 Observation by U. S. Department of Labor official at manufacturing site (June 16, 1997).

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80 Kuan Ho Sporting Goods is a Taiwanese- invested firm affiliated with Top Ball Trading Company, Ltd. Kuan Hohas been producing rubber balls for the past six years. Its Taiwanese parent, Top Ball, developed a process tomake machine- stitched soccer balls. So far, Baden is the only customer for these balls. Kuan Ho managementstates that all their soccer balls are made entirely in the factory.

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81 Interview with James Chan, Baden Asia representative, by U. S. Department of Labor official (June 16, 1997).

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82 Interview with Kuan Ho manager by U. S. Department of Labor official (June 16, 1997).

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83 Id.

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84 Id.

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85 Interview with James Chan, Baden Asia representative, by U. S. Department of Labor official (June 16, 1997).

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86 A copy of the letter from Kuan Ho Sporting Goods to the President of Baden Sports, Inc. (November 22, 1996), certifying that the Kuan Ho company does not use child or slave labor in the manufacture of any of their productswas submitted by Baden to the U. S. Department of Labor [on file].

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87 Interview with James Chan, Baden Asia representative, by U. S. Department of Labor official (June 16, 1997).

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88 A copy of Baden's inspection report for Kuan Ho is on file. It was pointed out to the Baden representative thatthe label on the soccer ball also made claims about "no slave labor." He stated
that the letter would be revised toinclude the "no slave labor" certification as well.

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89 The visit by U. S. Department of Labor officials took place June 16, 1997. The inspection report was dated June18, 1997 but had not yet been signed.

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90 Interview with James Chan, Baden Asia representative by U. S. Department of Labor official (June 16, 1997).

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91 Id.

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92 Interview with workers at Kuan Ho factory by U. S. Department of Labor official (June 16, 1997).

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93 Interview with Kuan Ho manager by U. S. Department of Labor official (June 16, 1997).

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94 The New England stores are in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont.

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95 According to the International Labor Rights Fund (ILRF), the stickers were to be placed on the posters noting that the soccer balls are certified child labor-free by the ILRF. There is some confusion about whether the sticker was put on the posters. U. S. Department of Labor officials visiting Dunkin' Donuts stores in the New England region observed that none of the posters they saw carried the certification sticker.

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96 Interview with representative of Sports Team by U. S. Department of Labor official (August 6, 1997); interview with Dan McCurry, FoulBall campaign director, International Labor Rights Fund, by U. S. Department of Laborofficial (July 24, 1997). This information was confirmed in an interview with Dunkin' Donuts officials in Bostonby a U. S. Department of Labor official (August 7, 1997).

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97 Talon is a participant in the Pakistan Partners' Agreement (see Section E. 1 below).

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98 Interview with Dan McCurry, FoulBall campaign director, International Labor Rights Fund, by U. S. Departmentof Labor officials (July 24, 1997).

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99 Interview with representative of Sports Team by U. S. Department of Labor official (August 6, 1997).

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100 Letter from Kenneth W. Pratt, Vice President/ General Manager, Seneca Sports (February 18, 1997). In a follow-up interview, Seneca Sports noted that Seneca soccer balls are made in Pakistan and China, although only the balls made in Pakistan carry the no child labor guarantee. Interview with Seneca Sports representative by U. S.Department of Labor official (July 30, 1997).

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101 Interview with Seneca Sports representative by U. S. Department of Labor official (July 30, 1997).

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102 The monitoring system established under the Partners' Agreement had not been fully determined in February,nor had it been fully implemented by the time this report was published ( see Section E. 1).

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103 Letter from Larry J. Franklin, President, Franklin Sports, Inc., (February 18, 1997) [on file].

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104 Interview with representative of Franklin Sports by U. S. Department of Labor official (August 26, 1997).

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105 Interviews with representative of Franklin Sports by U. S. Department of Labor official (August 12 and 26,1997).

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106 Interview with representative of Molten, U. S. A., Inc., by U. S. Department of Labor officials (July 30, 1997 and August 19, 1997).

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107 During a site visit in Pakistan, a U. S. Department of Labor official was told by Shahzed Cheema, Director of Recto Sports, that it supplies 75 percent of Spalding's soccer balls and volley balls annually. Mr. Cheema furtherstated that Recto was in the process of establishing 17 stitching centers, employing 1500-1600 workers. Interview with Shahzed Cheema, Director, Recto Sports, by U. S. Department of Labor official (June 11, 1997).

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108 Interview with Chris Waldeck, Product Manager, Spalding Sports Worldwide, by U. S. Department of Laborofficial (August 12, 1997).

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109 Interview with representative of American Challenge by U. S. Department of Labor official (August 12, 1997).

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110 Letter from the Assistant Director, Factories II, Labour Welfare Department, Government of the Punjab, Sialkot,Pakistan (January 4, 1996)[ on file]. The letter, addressed to "To Whom it May Concern" and dated January 4, 1997,notes that there is no worker in the factory below the age of fifteen. All available literature about child labor inPakistan's soccer ball industry states that children are found stitching soccer balls outside the factory. Therefore,it would be rare to find children working in any soccer ball factory.

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111 Interview with representative of American Challenge by U. S. Department of Labor official (August 12, 1997).

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112 Interview with representative of SCORE American Soccer Company by U. S. Department of Labor official (August 25, 1997). Again, the Partners' Agreement was not adopted until February 14, 1997; its exact provisions regarding monitoring took a number of additional months to be agreed upon, and at the time of publication of thisreport had not been fully implemented.

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113 See "Statement from the Chairman, U. S. Youth Soccer," press release of the U. S. Youth Soccer Association, Inc.(undated); and "AYSO Takes Strong Position in Fight Against Child Labor Abuses," press release of the American Youth Soccer Organization (January 1997)[ on file].

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114 The SCCI is a trade body of 3,000 industrialist, importers and exporters. Most of its members are connectedwith sporting goods, surgical instruments, leather garments, musical instruments and garments.

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115 The U. S. Department of Labor is providing approximately $755,000 to implement the Partners' Agreementthrough its contribution to the ILO's IPEC program. Additional funds will be provided by the SCCI ($ 220,000), UNICEF ($ 200,000) and the Soccer Industry Council of America ($ 100,000).

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116 The NGOs are Save the Children- UK and the Bunyad Literacy Community Council. The Pakistan Bait-ul-Mal,a social welfare agency set up by the Prime Minister's office, also participates in the project.

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117 "The Pledge," World Federation of Sporting Goods, Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association and Soccer Industry Council of America news release (undated).

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118 The following companies have endorsed the Partners' Agreement: Action & Leisure (Uhlsport), Adidas, Admiral, American Challenge Enterprises, American Soccer Co. (SCORE), Attack, Baden Sports, Brine, Cambuci, Chelsea Trading Company, Cizen, Continental Sports, Diadora, DTI Soccer, Eiger, Franklin, Funnets, High Five, Hutch, Kappa, Kendis, Kwik Goal, Lanzera, Lotto, Maco (Athle Sports), Mikasa, Mizuno, Molten, Nassau, Nike, Nimatsu, Park & Sun, Patrick USA, Penalty, Pentland (Mitre), Pro- Touch, Puma, RAM Sport (Classic Sport), Reebok, Regent, SafMed Products (Quattro), Sekhon Sports, Select, Seneca, Sondico, Soccer Pal, Soccer Sport Supply (Doss), Spalding, Sportcraft, Tachikara, Talon, Three Epsilon, Umbro, Wilson and Xara.

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119 According to a SCCI representative, 23 companies in Sialkot, representing more than 80 percent of the area'ssoccer ball production had signed up to participate in the Partners' Agreement by June 1997. Interview with SCCI representative by U. S. Department of Labor official (June 11, 1997). One manufacturer told the Department official that he could not afford to participate in the Partners' Agreement because of the high initiation fee —100,000 Pakistani rupees (about $2,500). Also, he was not prepared to incur the extra cost to consolidate his production sites or pay the additional labor costs, such as social security and education taxes. Such investments would raise his cost of doing business by 20 percent, thus jeopardizing the firm's existence. Interview with Craftsman (Pvt.), Ltd. representative by U. S. Department of Labor official (June 11, 1997).

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120 General letter from Dr. Lenin Raghuvanshi, South Asian Coalition on Child Servitude (April 18, 1997) [on file].

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121 This is a group of leading exporters based in Jalandhar.

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122 Interview with André Gorgemans, Secretary General, World Federation of the Sporting Goods Industry, by U. S.Department of Labor official (June 3, 1997).

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123 See A Sporting Chance at 9. Press coverage in the U. K. focused on allegations of child labor used in sewingballs for the most successful soccer club in the U. K., Manchester United. A photograph and signature of one of theclub's celebrity players, Eric Cantona, was on the balls.

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124 The Sportsgoods Manufacturers and Exporters Association, Indian Sports Goods Industry and Child Labour (May 21, 1997) (mimeograph) [on file].

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125 "Child Labour in Sports Industry ," Sportsgoods Manufacturers and Exporters Association press release (undated), received by a U. S. Department of Labor official (June 4, 1997).

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126 Minutes of a special meeting of the Sportsgoods Manufacturers and Exporters Association (May 31, 1997) [onfile].

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127 Sportsgoods Manufacturers and Exporters Association, Child Labour Issue (June 18, 1997) (mimeograph) [onfile].

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128 Interview with André Gorgemans, Secretary General, World Federation of the Sporting Goods Industry, by U. S.Department of Labor official (June 3, 1997).

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129 Sportsgoods Manufacturers and Exporters Association, Child Labour Issue (June 18, 1997) (mimeograph) [onfile].

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130 Letter from Satish Wasan, Honorary Secretary, Sportsgoods Manufacturers and Exporters Association, to the Secretary, Sportsgoods Manufacturers and Exporters Association, (September 13, 1997) (mimeograph) [on file].

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131 The acronym is from the French name: Fédération Internationale de Football Association.

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132 The three unions are the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU), the International Textile,Garment and Leather Workers' Federation (ITGLWF) and the International Federation of Commercial, Clerical, andTechnical Employees (FIET).

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133 "Labour Code for Footballs," FIFA press release (September 3, 1996) [on file].

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134 ILO Conventions 29 and 105 address the issue of forced or bonded labor. Conventions 100 and 111 address equality of employment and treatment regardless of race, color, sex, religion, political opinion, nationality, social origin, or other distinguishing characteristic. Convention 138 addresses the issue of child labor. Convention 87and 98 address the right of workers to form and join trade unions and to bargain collectively.

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135 Code of Labour Practice for Production of Goods Licensed by the Fédération Internationale de Football Asso-ciation (FIFA) (September 3, 1996).

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136 Interview with FIFA representative by U. S. Department of Labor official (August 12, 1997). In a separatedevelopment, the Irish Congress of Trades Unions and the Football Association of Ireland agreed to a code of labor practice for soccer balls, including a prohibition against child labor in May 1997. The Code is based uponthe FIFA Code of Labor Practice. According to the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU), Ireland is the first country where a national code of practice has been adopted by a football federation. "Irish Unions win victory over child labour in sporting goods industry," ICFTU On- Line (May 22, 1997).

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137 The 7 importers were chosen for the survey because of their appearance on the Market Share Reporter, 1995"Soccer Ball Brand Preference" survey; their status as "official ball" for a particular soccer league; or information suggesting that their balls are not made with child labor or they have a child labor-free label. The three retailers chosen as survey participants are the top sporting goods retailers (that also sell soccer balls) as reported in anannual survey of 300 sporting goods retailers, "Top 100 Retailers," Sports Trend (June 1997).

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138 Interview with Dale Apley, Kmart Director of Government Affairs, by U. S. Department of Labor official (August 7, 1997).

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139 A U. S. Department of Labor official visited one of the SAGA Sports stitching centers in a village in the Sialkotarea. The stitching center consisted of a main stitching hall that can accommodate 400- 500 stitchers, a lunchroom, a store, a day care center and a medical office. Employee benefits include free transportation to and from work, lunch and tea breaks provided at no charge, and a store called a "Fair Price Shop" which sells non-perishable foodstuffs, oil, ceramic dishes and toiletries reportedly discounted 20 percent. A large plaque withNike's code of conduct was placed in the stitching hall's entrance. Visit by U. S. Department of Labor official (June13, 1997).

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140 See ILO- IPEC Project Document: Elimination of Child Labor in the Soccer Ball Industry in Sialkot, Pakistan (July30, 1997) 3- 4 [on file].

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This report was produced by the staff of the International Child Labor Program and is published by the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of International Labor Affairs.

Acknowledgements