Oxfam opposes footwear giants for violating workers rights

However, the performance of the industry as a whole remains poor.

For example, an adidas supplier in Indonesia recently sacked 30 union workers who took part in a legal strike for more pay so that they could meet dramatic rises in the cost of living.

Workers receive as little as 60 cents an hour for their labour. The Panarub factory near Jakarta makes the adidas' Predator Pulse boots promoted by England’s David Beckham and Frank Lampard, France’s Zinedine Zidane and Patrick Viera, Spain’s Raul and Brazil’s Kaka, as well as the +F50.6 Tunit boots promoted by Holland’s Arjen Robben, Germany’s Kevin Kuranyi and Brazil’s Ze Roberto in the lead up to the FIFA World Cup.

However, adidas has refused to help the 30 sacked workers get their jobs back.

"The sacking of these workers sends a very worrying signal to sports brands that it’s acceptable to discriminate against union workers. In the past adidas has shown leadership within the industry and the company should continue to do so by ensuring the factory reinstates these workers.

The sportswear industry is a valuable source of jobs in Asia. But consumers and workers alike have the right to expect that global brands will not exploit the people making their goods," added Dent.

Oxfam International