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POOR ASIAN ECONOMY LEADS TO CUTS AT NIKE-CONTRACTED PLANTS

          Layoffs of overseas factory workers at Nike-contracted
     factories was examined by Richard Read of the Portland
     OREGONIAN.  Nike execs "are unable to say how many shoe
     factory workers have lost their jobs," but Nike spokesperson
     Vada Manager said that the number of people making Nike
     footwear "has fallen by many thousands and now stands at
     227,248."  In Indonesia, Nike's work force has fallen from
     almost 120,000 at its peak early last year to 76,000 workers
     as of May.  Read wrote that Nike managers "who would like to
     help laid-off workers can't figure out quite how."  In
     Indonesia, several factories bought goods such as rice,
     sugar, and cooking oil "and offered them to workers at
     stable, discounted prices during recent inflation, shortages
     and devaluations."  Joel Enderle, Nike's Regional Labor
     Practices Dir in Thailand: "The difficult question is ...
     how long do you keep them on the bottle?  When you're
     talking about subsidizing a worker plus a family on food,
     how long do you do that?" (OREGONIAN, 6/14).
          LISTENING TO ASIA: In N.Y., Nicholas Kristof reports
     today, "Just as pressure is growing in the West against the
     use of sweatshops in developing countries, the Asian
     financial crisis is spawning such desperation that more
     people than ever seem willing to take grim or dangerous jobs
     in such factories."  But Kristof adds, "There is no evidence
     that well-known Western companies are taking advantage of
     the crisis to take short cuts on safety standards" (N.Y.
     TIMES, 6/15).  In Atlanta, columnist Steve Hummer writes
     about the "slick packet" he received detailing Nike's
     overseas labor practice reforms.  Hummer: "We might be a lot
     more willing to accept Nike at its word if only it wasn't so
     overbearing" (ATLANTA CONSTITUTION, 6/15).
          NO COMMENT: AD AGE reports that Nike "is said to be
     shopping for possible acquisitions that could help its entry
     into the sports equipment market," and sports marketing
     execs say Nike "has been eyeing Rawlings Sporting Goods Co.
     for at least a year."  Rawlings CFO Paul Martin: "We do not
     comment on takeover rumors."  A spokesperson for Nike's
     equipment division also wouldn't comment (AD AGE, 6/14).  

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