adidas must take action to address systemic labour violations in Indonesia. It can begin by making amends for the illegal and unfair treatment of workers at PT Spotec and PT Dong Joe who were left with nothing when the factories abruptly closed.

adidas' parking space at the closed Spotec factory

In its glossy and well-designed publications, adidas expresses its commitment to improving its social and environmental performance, acknowledging its responsibility to "take action and encourage others in our supply chain to take action if we are to make a difference and become a sustainable business." Now is the time for adidas to take action in Indonesia, where systemic violations of international labour standards profoundly affect the lives and well-being of workers.

Time and again, urgent cases of labour violations in Indonesia reveal the abuse of short-term labour contracts; irresponsible and illegal treatment of workers during factory closures; and the pervasive infringement on workers' freedom of association, their right to organize and bargain collectively. The Clean Clothes Campaign and Oxfam Australia call on adidas to implement sector-wide solutions to ensure that workers in Indonesia are guaranteed their rights and are treated with the respect and dignity they deserve. See "Sector-Wide Solutions for the Sports Shoe and Apparel Industry in Indonesia."

As a first step toward improving its performance in Indonesia, adidas must make amends for the serious mistreatment of workers at its former suppliers, PT Dong Joe and PT Spotec. In November 2006, 10,500 workers at PT Dong Joe and PT Spotec suddenly found themselves out of a job when the factories abruptly closed. To make matters worse, workers did not receive their severance and other entitlements for many months, leaving them with nothing. Full entitlements have still not been paid to all workers.

Now, with adidas guaranteeing a placement of orders, the PT Spotec factory will re-open under new ownership as Ching Luh. adidas must uphold its commitment to a fair and transparent process that gives priority hiring to the workers whose wages were stolen and whose rights were so egregiously denied.

Send a letter to adidas demanding fair treatment for former PT Dong Joe and PT Spotec workers and implementation of "Sector-Wide Solutions in Indonesia," detailed by the CCC and Oxfam-Australia.

SAMPLE LETTER

Dear Mr Henke,

I am writing to ask you to address fundamental problems in Indonesian working conditions by implementing the "Sector-Wide Solutions" put forward by Oxfam Australia, the Clean Clothes Campaign and an international network of labour rights and consumer groups.

Although workers in Indonesia have witnessed relative gains in labour standards during the past decade, systemic violations of international labour standards have become obvious. Time and again, urgent cases of labour violations in Indonesia reveal the abuse of short-term labour contracts; irresponsible and illegal treatment of workers during factory closures; and the pervasive infringement on workers' freedom of association, their right to organize and bargain collectively.

adidas' implementation of the Sector-Wide Solutions will help guarantee that Indonesian workers are free to exercise their fundamental rights and are treated in accordance to Indonesian law and international labour standards.

As a first step towards taking responsibility for workers in your supply chain, adidas must make amends for the unlawful and unethical treatment of workers at its suppliers PT Dong Joe and PT Spotec. In November 2006, both factories abruptly closed and 10,500 workers were laid off. To make matters worse, workers did not receive their severance and other entitlements for many months, leaving them with nothing. Full entitlements have still not been paid to all workers.

adidas and the management of PT Spotec and PT Dong Joe should ensure that workers receive their full legal entitlements. Now that the PT Spotec factory is set to re-open as Ching Luh, adidas has the chance to make amends for the injustice done to workers who make its products. adidas should uphold its commitment to a fair and transparent process that gives former workers of PT Spotec and PT Dong Joe priority in hiring.

I look forward to your response and hope that you will take concrete measures to "improve your performance" in Indonesia.

Sincerely,