Nike ignores unpaid workers’ appeal on five year anniversary of factory closure

1 July 2025 marked five years since the Violet Apparel factory in Cambodia closed suddenly, without giving the workers notice or paying the severance they were owed under Cambodian law. On the anniversary of the closure, the union reached out to Nike to ask why they still have to wait for justice. One month later Nike has failed to even acknowledge their appeal.

The 1,400 workers who lost their jobs overnight right in the middle of the pandemic have been fighting for the past five years for the 1.4 million USD in severance they are owed. In the process they teamed up with the workers of the Hong Seng factory in Thailand, who were forced to take unpaid leave in the same year. Upon having heard that Nike has started to compensate Hong Seng workers recently, the former Violet workers demanded to know: why were they still being ignored? Despite sending reminders to several Nike staff active on corporate accountability, the workers did not receive an answer.

The compensation to the Hong Seng workers came about after an investigative report by the Fair Labor Association. The report diminished the pressure that the Hong Seng workers were submitted to, as well as the active retaliation against worker Kyaw San Oo who spoke up on social media against the pressure, but nevertheless suggested that Nike take steps to remediate. Nike started to compensate the Hong Seng workers, but the compensation, especially the meagre amount for human rights defender Kyaw San Oo, is still wanting. Nike also failed to live up to the recommendation for “Nike to review its policies to address conducting investigations in extraordinary circumstances, such as the COVID pandemic.” The former Violet Apparel workers suggest that Nike urgently review their case as part of this.

Over the past five years, the wage theft cases in Nike’s supply chain have drawn considerable attention and international solidarity. One year ago, on this same day, activists unveiled a banner in solidarity with the workers in front of a massive Nike advertisement right in the middle of Olympic Paris. All across the US student groups have been taking solidarity actions with the workers who made their university apparel. And 58 human rights groups and 70 of Nike’s own investors spoken up for justice for these workers.

It is time that Nike starts to listen. Read the full letter of the workers below.

To Nike on 1 July 2025: Five Years Without Justice – A Renewed Appeal from Former Violet Apparel Workers

Dear Nike Representatives,

Today marks five years since we, the 1,400 workers from Violet Apparel in Cambodia, lost our jobs after producing garments for your brand. Despite our years of service and the clear legal obligations involved, we have yet to receive the compensation we are owed. Over the past five years, we have made repeated efforts to engage with Nike and seek redress, but our voices have consistently been ignored.

In solidarity, we joined with over 4,000 workers from the Hong Seng Knitting factory in Thailand—also former Nike suppliers—who were denied their lawful severance. Together, we stood as more than 5,000 workers who had manufactured Nike products and were unjustly left without compensation. The total amount owed to us collectively stands at $2.2 million.

We have now learned that Nike has acknowledged its obligation toward the Hong Seng workers and has agreed to provide them with partial compensation. While this recognition is a step in the right direction, it is deeply troubling that Nike continues to withhold the full amount due and has yet to take similar responsibility for the workers of Violet Apparel.

We respectfully ask: Will Nike now also revisit its position regarding us, the former Violet Apparel workers?

We understand that Nike’s remediation plan for the Hong Seng case includes commitments to improve how it conducts investigations during crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic. We ask whether this commitment stems from an acknowledgment that Nike’s response to previous worker complaints, including ours, was inadequate. In our case, Nike never conducted a direct investigation, nor did it engage with any of us at the time. We urge you to hear us now.

It has been both painful and disheartening to be accused of dishonesty when we have provided credible evidence proving that we produced Nike products at Violet Apparel—a factory under Ramatex, your supplier in Phnom Penh. Despite our documentation and testimony, Nike has continuously denied any connection. Meanwhile, production records and supplier data demonstrate clearly that Nike was sourcing from Ramatex’s facilities in Cambodia.

If Nike has reconsidered its position in the Hong Seng case, why does it continue to deny responsibility in ours? We urge Nike to act consistently and equitably by extending the same reconsideration to the Violet Apparel workers.

We respectfully call on Nike to engage with our representatives, the Cambodian Alliance of Trade Unions (CATU), and to provide full compensation for the violations we have endured. Justice delayed is justice denied. It is time for Nike to uphold its stated commitments to human rights and fair labor practices.

Previous correspondence from Violet Apparel workers and CATU:

26 October 2020 – Letter from CATU: Business & Human Rights Resource Centre

Undated – Letter from Violet Apparel workers: Nike Steals – Ramatex

8 March 2024 – Response from former Violet Apparel workers: Business & Human Rights Resource Centre

Sincerely,

 Yang Sophorn, President of Cambodian Alliance of Trade Unions-CATU

Read more about the two cases and Nike’s arguments not to take responsibility.