Shooting at Puma factory in Cambodia

Despite the increase in social audits in countries like Cambodia, China, and Vietnam, the incidents of worker unrest have risen. Here's a recent report from Reuters discussing a serious incident in one of Puma's factories.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/02/23/puma-cambodia-idUSL5E8DN8S820120223

This suggests to me that auditing factories to company codes of conduct is not having the desired impact on workers' lives. I'm sorry if you have heard that from me before, but it really pisses me off .
How many more articles like this will it take to pursuade Brands to look at the root cause of worker unrest instead of uncovering the symptoms.

Hello, is anyone in there?

In all of the statements Apple has made recently about its fair labor program and practices, I have not heard or seen once, any mention of their business practices impacting their factories' ability to meet their code of conduct. Not once. They are either in total denial or not aware of their impact. The impact of business practices, such as short lead times and pushing factories for better margins despite increases in the labor wages and raw materials, is well documented by those that have accepted that they may be part of the problem, such as Nike, Gap, Levis etc. Apple have no chance in gaining full compliance at their factories without understanding the root causes. SACOM  (Students and Scholars Against Corporate Misbehavior) have pointed out to Apple that this is something they should be aware of. They might try and make the case that they were unaware of this. However, now they know, yesterday was ignorance, tomorrow is negligence.

I hope the FLA staff do a better job than their President and bring these issues to the attention of Mr Cook.

Cambodian "People's Tribunal"

Here's an interesting article from Leonie Barrie, of Just Style Magazine.

Groups representing Cambodian garment workers are holding a "people's tribunal" next week to investigate pay and conditions at factories making clothes for brands including Adidas, Puma, H&M and Gap.

The two-day hearing in Phnom Penh follows a spate of mass faintings in the sector, as well as a series of strikes. It hopes to draw attention to the concerns of those employed in the garment sector - as well as a fair wage commitment from firms sourcing from Cambodia.

Unions and human rights groups will call evidence from a wide variety of stakeholders from the Cambodian garment industry, including workers, manufacturers, and multinational brands.
For the whole article, click here

The Brands mentioned have significant compliance programs, and I'm sure they are all aware of these issues. All garment factories in Cambodia have to be registered with the Better Work program and as such, agree to audits by the ILO, so they will also be aware. With such high profile scrutiny, you have to ask yourself why these issues are still there.

The following quote from the article may give you a clue.

"With this tribunal we hope to see some real commitment from big brands buying from Cambodia to start addressing the real needs of their workers - a living wage should be at the root of company policies," says Jeroen Merk, Clean Clothes Campaign international secretariat.