Reebok - Managing Human Rights Issues 'Ethically?'

Though Reebok improved working conditions in its Chinese and other Asian factories, analysts felt that a lot still remained to be done. Reports continued to be published regularly about poor working conditions in Reebok's footwear operations in China.

In January 2002, the China Labor Watch published a report after investigating working conditions (between June 2001 and January 2002) in six Reebok shoe factories in China. The report concluded that the steps taken by Reebok to improve working conditions and prevent human rights abuse were not sufficient...

Even though doubts were raised about the efficacy of Reebok's measures for preventing the violation of human rights, the company continued with its efforts to improve working conditions at the Chinese factories. In August 2002, Reebok took measures to reduce overtime working hours in these factories to 36 hours per month.

In November 2002, elections were conducted in one Reebok's Taiwanese owned Fuh Luh footwear factory in the Fujian province of China. Reebok had to negotiate with the factory management and the ACFTU for several months to develop a framework for the conduct of the elections...