Job Discussion Forums

miss-reece · Joined: 23 Oct 2003 Posts: 4 Location: Michigan

Does anyone have experience taking the TEFL International certification course in Thailand and then working for 6 weeks with employees in a Nike factory? It sounds like a very, uh, unique experience and I wonder if it would be worthwhile.

Thanks--

Marisa

hagakuri · Posted: Sun Nov 02, 2003 5:34 pm Post subject: Nike

Hello,

Nike does not enjoy a very good reputation inside of Thailand. This is because of their explotation of the factory workers there. There have been many international write-ups pertaining to this.

You may be captured by the larger-than-life brand of Nike, but do not be. First research the company and their history of employment within Southeast Asia. How can this be the case, if they are attempting to teach their factory workers English? Do not be confused. It is not the 2,000 baht a month employee that you will be teaching. You will be teaching higher up execs, whom Nike wants to export to Western Countries - whereas they can pay them far lower than an exec that they would have to hire from the hosting country.

For example, hire a Thai exec in thailand for 14,000 baht a month. Teach them English... then send them to America and pay him 8,000USD a year as opposed to the mid 20`s.

Sorry for the contempt, but I truly dislike companies with hidden agendas that superficially try to adopt a hero status.

But the decision is yours. Just do your homework on the Net.

miss-reece · Joined: 23 Oct 2003 Posts: 4 Location: Michigan

Yeah, you basically confirmed what I already expected. I have read and heard horror stories about Nike's exploitation of workers, so I'm definitely not romanticized by their corporate largesse. I just wondered if, perhaps, this would be a way to improve the workers' conditions, to do something (somewhat) altruistically meaningful for a less-than-ideal situation. I did not consider the larger picture of only teaching execs so that they can continue to be exploited by American companies.

By the way, have you seen Michael Moore's second documentary The Big One? He goes head-to-head with Phil Knight, CEO of Nike, and presents him with an airline ticket to join him on a visit to the sweatshops which Knight, of course, refuses. Interesting . . .

Thanks again--

jethakuh · Joined: 19 Sep 2004 Posts: 3 Location: Toronto

Yes, Nike has a HORRID international reputation...

That is why i am DEFINITELY going to be in Ban Phe in January doing the Nike internship.

As much as it will be the higher ups that I will be teaching, I will also be volunteering at a local school in Si Racha. This will be a chance to teach English to children in a village where there's not money to to invest in quality schools and such, and therefore, Nike is willing to pay grads of TEFL int'l for their time.
However, don't think that this is an opportunity to get wealthy...making 12,500 b for the month, and being given a bicycle to get to the factory are what Nike provides.

Think what you will, but what does Pepsi provide for its employees in Burma?

tedkarma · Posted: Sun Sep 26, 2004 6:01 am Post subject:

Not to poor cold water on any dreams - but I hope you realize that at B12,500 for a month - you'd better bring along some cash to live on. Most EFL teachers in Thailand would have trouble making it on DOUBLE that.

More power to you if you can make it on that, but it will be a great weight loss program!

sigmoid · Joined: 21 Jan 2003 Posts: 1276

jethakuh · Joined: 19 Sep 2004 Posts: 3 Location: Toronto

"Not to poor cold water on any dreams"...firstly, i think you mean "pour"...

in any case, yes, i am certainly BRINGING money to live on. I am not thinking of this program as a true PAID job, but that the 12,500 is a bonus. gravy. si racha sauce, if you will...

tedkarma · Posted: Sun Sep 26, 2004 11:53 pm Post subject:

Thanks for the spelling help Jethakuh,

More help on another front please. Why are you going to teach for Nike - an international and wealthy corporation - teaching their executives, for LESS THAN HALF the pay of the worst jobs in Thailand?

Guess I don't get it. It is nice that you are considering volunteering - in your spare time when you are working at Nike, BUT, shouldn't Nike be paying full regular wages? Even if you are a trainee or intern - B25,000 seems more appropriate - considering that a majority of teachers in Thailand have no formal training anyway. It's not like Nike is hurting for money . . .

Bruce · Joined: 22 Feb 2003 Posts: 51 Location: Around the world

Where to begin? There are some really uninformed posts that need to be responded to.

Does Nike have a bad reputation in Thailand? Absolutely not! For anyone who said that, here is my challenge. Come to Thailand and I will arrange a personal tour of the factory for you. I willmake sure there is a Thai thee to translate and you can go talk to the factory workers. What will they tell you? That most of them have worked there for many years because it is an excellent place to work. It is a very progressive factory. Very clean and the workers are treated very well.

As for the job, yes, housing is provided. And you teach factory workers, not some upper management people.

Why is Nike an international target in child workers? Because they are a BIG target. Do you know that they spend tons of money doing research so that the glue they use in the shoes is non toxic?

My good friend worked in Compliance for many years. His job was to inspect factories for labor misuse. The companies that do/may use child labor are the no-name brands that you buy at Walmart or Payless Shoes. it never happens at Nike, and if it has it was a very isolated incident and completely unknown to Nike. My friend tells me Gap factories have a spotty reputation. How many of you shop at the Gap?

This is a good program that Nike sponsors to teach factory workers and some kids at a local school. The pay is not good but, hey, Nike is just doing this to be nice.

And for those who like to make accusations without any knowledge on the subject, come on down. My challenge stands.

PKB · Joined: 05 Nov 2004 Posts: 88 Location: USA

While we look down on such jobs, locals must not think that they are so bad compared to the other local jobs in the area or else they would leave to work the other local jobs and Nike would move the work to Laos.

There were a lot of similiar jobs in the U.S. a century ago, and then those jobs went to Korea, Japan, Taiwan, and Hong Kong. And then as competition and their labour forces improved those types of jobs went to South East Asia. Now South East Asia is improving economically and those jobs will eventually go somewhere else.

More important than regulations is the encouragement of competition. Which includes employers competing for labour with positive working conditions and market wages.

Canadian_Guy · Joined: 08 Nov 2004 Posts: 27

How many people think that Bruce works for Nike Question

I would think so.

Bruce · Joined: 22 Feb 2003 Posts: 51 Location: Around the world

I work for TEFL International. But everything I posted is fact. If you don't believe me take me up on my challenge! Or, better yet, join the program. We have had more than a few people join just to see the "child labor" and "terrible working conditions" and left realizing that US unions (who are mostly contrilled by the mafia) want to discredit companies that manufacture overseas for their own reasons.

hagakuri · Posted: Sun Nov 14, 2004 3:29 am Post subject:

Nike cannot go to Laos - Nike is in Thailand for a few simple reasons:

1. Laos lacks the macro-infrastructure to support a large scale international manufacturing facility. This ranges from everything from Phase 3 electrical power to roads and transportation logistics.

2. Laos does not provide government economical concessions as does Thailand.

Nike does not have a bad reputaton in Thailand?

I suggest that anyone considering this program to visit: http://cbae.nmsu.edu/~dboje/nike/thailand.html and make their own opinion.

Or in the alternative your can read the following:

The Par Monthinee garment factory employs more than 300 women and is located in Nakorn Rachasima (Korat). Par Monthinee is a subsidiary of the Par Garment Company which also owns a factory in Rangsit (near Bangkok) and the Par Consortium factory in Ubon Ratchatani (also in North-Eastern Thailand). Nike is one of several companies which order clothes from Par Monthinee. Often Par Monthinee subcontracts all or part of these orders to the Par Consortium factory. This was the case with the most recent Nike order which was completed in August/September 1999.
http://www.cleanclothes.org/companies/nike00-03-15-4.htm

Lastly, Nike is just doing this to be nice? Wow, I have not heard such naivety in a very long time.

Do your homework, be informed, choose wisely.

PKB · Joined: 05 Nov 2004 Posts: 88 Location: USA

But are these working conditons below par for Thailand? If so, why don't these workers seek other types of employment?

Bruce · Joined: 22 Feb 2003 Posts: 51 Location: Around the world

They are very good for Thailand. if any of you take the time to visit you will see that. Talk to some workers. Many have worked there for many years. Sri Racha has many factories. There are many options.

The Nike program teaches factory workers of their su contractor. They do not exactly get big bang for the buck. On Wednesdays the teachers go to volunteer at a local primary school. Again at Nike expense. I am not Phil Knight but it seems to me it is not the best investment in the world. It is simply a humanitarian project they offer.

One or two complaints in 20 years of operating in Thailand? Is that everything? I hope you realize Nuike has about 20 or 30 factories in Thailand. And there is ONE complaint in TWENTY years? is there any evidence that this complaint was legitimate or was it just an accusatin? I think anyone who is objective can see where I am going here.

Again, it is my challenge to any of the complainers here. In fact, how about this: If any of you come to Thailand I will tour the factory with you and you can speak to the factory workers at Nike and even surrounding factories. If Nike is below standard or has a poor reputation I will REIMBURSE YOUR AIRFARE TO THAILAND. If I am right, you need to east crow and post that you were wrong here on this forum.

Any takers?

For those who question Nike's reputation within Thailand I suggest you contact Population and Community Development Association (PDA). Some of you may have heard of their restaurant, Condoms and Cabbages, or their Chairman, Khun Mechai. PDA operates a wide variety of programs designed to serve and assist the rural poor of Thailand. And one of their main supporters and partners is... Nike.

Do you guys all just believe what the media or some special intrest group tells you? Nike is a big and profitable company but they are also quite socially responsible (for a major corporation).