Hi, Sorry to post this to the list, but I'm in a bind. I'm writing a paper on Nike (thesis: Nike exploits women workers in the Pacific Rim), and I desperately need some legal type of help. If there are any lawyers reading this, or if anyone knows a lawyer with email and could forward this, I'd reallyreally appreciate your replies, as soon as possible. The more answers, the better. When replying, please include your full name, credentials, the agency you're employed with (if any), your email address and your office address. Phone number is optional. Send all replies to tinystar@worldy.com. Basically, what I need to know is this: 1. Define 'exploitation'. 2. Is it up to the parent company or the contractor to enforce labour laws? 3. Should it be the parent company (Nike) or the individual factory owners who take the blame for rights violations? 4. To what degree is a company responsible for the goings-on it its factories, in instances where work is contracted out? 5. Should a company ensure that its employees are paid at least subsistence wage (in instances where this may be above minimum wage)? 6. Can employees be forced to work overtime? Is it reasonable to reprimand/punish those that do not wish to work overtime? 7. a. What is usually done when a company's employees register complaints (such as being verbally abused, forced to run laps around the factories for not meeting quotas, not having adequate medical care available in the workplace)? b. In a case where it is discovered that the accusations are true, does the parent company (in an outsourcing situation) have the right to enforce its own consequences, or must they be dealt with legally? 8. Is it within the realm of the law to request that a factory be closed, after receiving countless reports of rights abuses? 9. Is it legal for Nike to wash their hands of the responsibility for the treatment of workers, in a plant that is ultimately operated by them? Thanks so much, and please remember to include your name, credentials, name of company, company address, and email address. And reply privately - tinystar@worldy.com. truly, jessica tinystar@worldy.com ----------------------------------------------------------------------- . This message was brought to you by the Sinister mailing list. . To send to the list please mail "sinister@majordomo.net". . For subscribing, unsubscribing and other list information please see . http://www.majordomo.net/sinister . For questions about how the list works mail owner-sinister@majordomo.net . We're all happy bunnies humming happy bunny tunes. Aren't we? -----------------------------------------------------------------------