By 24 April, a huge strike at Yue Yuen Industrial shoe factories in Dongguan, China, had lasted for 20 days. Labor activists estimated that 40,000 to 60,000 workers joined the strike, making it the largest industrial action in China in recent years. Yue Yuen is the biggest manufacturer of sports shoes in the world. Its customers include Nike, Adidas, New Balance, Converse and Puma. Yue Yuen’s consolidated revenue for March was US$650 million. In China, a pair of Nike’s new basketball shoes costs between RMB1399 and 1999 (A$241 to A$344). However, an assembly line worker receives a monthly salary of about RMB2800 (A$483). Those who produce thousands of shoes every month can’t afford to buy two pairs with a whole month’s pay.
Posted on: Sat, 26 Apr 2014 20:47:09 +0000