Thesedays, soccer balls are much more pricey than other sports equipments, but there are pathetic stories hidden behind those luxury spherical balls. A few years ago, the soccer industry has signed the “Atalanta Agreement” to reform the poor soccer stiching work conditions. However, recently, the Play Fair Alliance has reported the shocking truths about the poor labor situation in China, India and Thailand.
Includng child labors, their payment is much lower than the minimum regulated wages (they are all paid US $0.35 per ball), in addition, they are all working 12-13hours a day which is much more than legal working hours policy. Since the soccer balls take long time to be made, workers can only produce maximum four balls each day.
I believe that the soccer industry should keep their promise that to improve the all the workers’ conditions of making soccer balls. It is because that those are the reponsibilities that they should do. This is the manner and the business ethics. Huge companies should not forget workers’ bloody labors, treat them equal as human, who has their family and cherished people around, and not to take only the profits workers produce.
Article : http://www.ituc-csi.org/world-cup-soccer-balls