Nike has been accused of using child labour in the production of its soccer balls in Pakistan. While Pakistan has laws against child labour and slavery, the government has taken very little action to combat it. Global Alliance, a watchdog group for factory workers, has released a report stating that "Indonesian workers making Nike clothes and shoes are being sexually and verbally abused, have limited access to health care and are forced to work overtime." Children are paid eight cents of each $20 baseball cap that is purchased in Canada. (Global Alliance) .
The FIFA World Cup is the passion of millions of people around the world once every 4 years. However, thousands of children are losing their precious childhood, stitching soccer balls that are used at these events. Pakistan, India and China are the main exporters of soccer balls, and all reports point to the use of children in this sector. More than 7,000 children under the age of 14 work stitching soccer balls. The children receive about 60 cents per ball they stitch, and even older children can only stitch three or four balls a day. They are denied the opportunity of growing up dreaming of a future without stitching. Instead, they work day and night stitching the dreams of others. .
As a child one can remember the Disney classics and the Disney toys but can one believe that these precious memories where once another child's torture? Disney products including the Happy Meals sold at McDonalds are made by child labour. Children are forced to work 9 to 10 hours a day, seven days a week, earning as little as six cents an hour in Vietnam making these promotional toys, many of which are Disney characters for McDonald's Happy Meals. Overtime is mandatory. Six cents an hour is well below subsistence levels. The most basic meal in Vietnam - rice, vegetables, and tofu - costs 70 cents. Three meals would cost $2.10. Wages do not even cover 20 per cent of the daily food and travel costs for a single worker, let alone a family.