Decades After Nike Promised Sweatshop Reforms, Workers in This Factory Were Still Fainting

This article was created by ProPublica in collaboration with The Oregonian/OregonLive. Subscribe to Dispatches to receive stories like this one as soon as they are published.

During the scorching hot season in Phnom Penh, where the temperature often reaches 100 degrees, more workers at a factory producing baby clothes for Nike sought medical attention. Employees were frequently too weak to work, with up to 15 people a month needing medical assistance in May and June. Workers reported fainting, feeling weak, and being taken to the clinic, highlighting the challenging working conditions at Y&W Garment factory.

Fainting incidents have been a recurring issue at garment factories in Cambodia, including those producing Nike goods. Despite Nike’s efforts to address the problem, such as sending executives for fact-finding missions and calling for investigations, workers continued to face health issues while producing Nike apparel at Y&W Garment. The factory eventually stopped making Nike clothing in late 2023 and later went bankrupt.

Better Factories Cambodia, tasked with monitoring working conditions in Cambodian factories, has faced criticism for not effectively addressing labor issues. While the organization has reported on violations in factories, it has been accused of overlooking many problems. In Vietnam, a similar pattern was observed at a Nike supplier, where workers suffered from fainting due to harsh working conditions.

Efforts to improve working conditions, such as audits and remediation plans, have been made in response to worker complaints. Nike has taken steps to address issues like high temperatures in its facilities, but challenges remain in ensuring worker safety and well-being in its supply chain.