By
The Nike-contracted factory
in Cambodia where workers clashed with police earlier this week was
closed on Wednesday "out of concern for worker safety due to additional
protests planned," Nike said in a statement.
That news was included in the statement the Oregon sports equipment company issued about Monday's violent confrontation.
News accounts said at least 23 workers were hurt when police in riot
gear, using stun batons, ended the protest over pay at the
Nike-contracted factory. Most of the 3,000 protesters blocking a road
outside the factory were women. Reuters reported that one of the women who confronted police was pregnant.
The factory is owned by Sabrina (Cambodia) Garment Manufacturing in Kampong Speu province, west of the capital, Phnom Penh.
Wednesday's Nike statement was similar in tone and content of a previous statement issued Monday night.
However, the updated statement says the factory raised its minimum wage May 1 and pays above the country's minimum wage.
"In addition to wages, the workers are eligible for additional
monthly allowances for housing, transportation and food as well as an
attendance bonus," says the statement, which emphasizes that Nike does
not directly employ the factory workers "and wages and compensation are
the responsibility of the factories."
The statement also says:
"Nike is deeply concerned with the treatment of workers outside of a
contract factory in Phnom Penh, Cambodia that makes Nike products.
Better Factories Cambodia (BFC) has confirmed to Nike through an
independent investigation that some workers sustained injuries during a
protest in Cambodia on Monday.
"As outlined in Nike's Code of Conduct, Nike requires its contract
manufacturers to respect their employees' rights to freedom of
association. We immediately began working with BFC and the contract
manufacturer, and we have reached out to the Cambodian government, to
address the need for worker safety while exercising their freedom of
association rights to protest."
-- Allan Brettman
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