By Umar Shahid, PTUDC
FIFA world cup has been kicked off in Russia with its traditional fervour. The mainstream media’s catchy headlines are covering frenzy and exciting moments of the world cup. FIFA world cup is one of the biggest events in sports and it is given exclusive coverage and millions of people follow it. However, behind all this, capitalists are extracting enormous profits from the “fans”. If look at the figures released by FIFA for World cup 2014, it made $2.4 billion in TV rights fees, $1.6 billion in sponsorships, and $527 million in ticket sales. According to Bloomberg, The 2018 World Cup is expected to rake in about $6 billion in revenue for FIFA, up 25 per cent from 2014. With as many as 3.2 billion people expected to watch the tournament, broadcast revenue is expected to rise to $3 billion. Similarly, big brands in global sports industry such as Nike and Adidas alone reported more than 60 billion dollars sales in 2017. In the country hosting the event, Russian state officials claim the World Cup will add 26 to 31 billion dollars to the national economy. FIFA world cup is most lucrative and costliest soccer event.
It was not a surprise that Russian Ambassador to Pakistan Alexey Dedov has confirmed that his country will be using footballs manufactured in the Pakistani city of Sialkot for use in matches of the 2018 FIFA World Cup. Around the world, more than 70% of the world’s footballs are made in the city of Sialkot in Pakistan. The Sialkot city has been exporting around 65 million footballs every year. The ruling elite considers it a proud moment and they always express their enjoyment over this fact. Despite “hallmark of quality” or “exceptional product” the reality is the brutal exploitation of local working class. In western markets official World Cup Football will retail for as much as $150, however, workers who are the real craftsmen and put life into dead material are marginalized and worst victims of exploitation. The German weekly Spiegel reported that many suppliers of intermediary companies paid the workers for every single ball sewn about 50 cents each. That’s far below than minimum wage standard of the country.
The football industry is more labour intensive where the stitching is still being done by hand. In the supply chain, much of this labour intensive work is still done in informal settings such as stitching centres and in homes. The rest of the process, including lamination, cutting panels, screen printing, quality control and packing, is completed by factory workers. The big names in Sialkot industry still prefer their intermediaries for these jobs. Due to this low level of skills involved in stitching, it is very easy for children to get involved. Locally it’s often said that little fingers of children are more effective for stitching. There had been many hues and cry on the elimination of child labour from industry but according to International Labor Rights Forum, it still persists. In its report, ILRF admitted that “Unfortunately, the past decade’s efforts have not resulted in the eradication of child labour in soccer ball stitching though it appears to have decreased in Sialkot, Pakistan.” It further states that Child labour still exists in outsourcing. In the informal settings often, children can be seen working.
Owing to the structure of industry much of labour is scattered in villages. These workers effectively serve as raw material for exploitation. High unemployment rates and escalating living costs make it easy for capitalists to dictate their own terms. The concept of permanent or regular jobs is being diminished and it has been replaced by contract labour and temporary work. These workers are mostly on the mercy of their contractors and always work in unstable employment, lower wages and more dangerous working conditions. Social security and other social benefits are seldom and labour rights exist only on paper. It’s estimated that around 300,000 people directly or indirectly are attached to this industry. These workers don’t have the right to unionize even they can’t complain about their conditions to labour courts. The law of Pakistan doesn’t accept them as a formal worker. Even if these workers have some rights; they are too scared to organize because they know that they are easily replaceable. Despite efforts undertaken by governments, advocacy groups, and industry members alike, child labour still exists in the soccer ball industry where the stitching is outsourced to home-based work. In addition, other issues, such as the use of casual or temporary labour, low wages, overtime and hazardous working environments persist.
The condition of factory workers is not much different. In factories, workers are being hired through contractors. In past, Sialkot worker was considered to be a privileged one. Due to their struggle and growth rate in capitalism capitalists gave them many concessions like eight-hour workday, paid leaves, bonus and free transport facility. But in crisis capitalist have shown their true colours, now austerity measures are being imposed. In factories concept of permanent labour has become a dream and there are continuous attacks on workers. Unions are being crushed and even there is an undeclared ban imposed on the registration of new unions. Instead of monthly wages or benefits, piece rate wage is common practice. Although it is said that worker is being paid on per piece rate, however, there are many kinds of deductions to be made by contractors in form of wastage, wrong stitch etc. Due to hazard working environment and long hours of work – workers are also posed to serious health risks. In stitching; due to a long hour working in the same posture serious joints and orthopaedic issues have been found. In lamination, workers suffer from lung problems and the average age of workers is coming down sharply.
Despite all horrific situation workers are determined to change their destiny. In recent years we have seen major upsurges of struggle in Sialkot industry. That includes strikes of Forward Gear and Leather fields when workers won concessions for them. Similarly, in different factories spontaneous protests have become a norm. Recently CEO of Forward Sports Khawaja Masood while talking with Aljazeera tv said, “his company is a contracting manufacturer of global sports apparel giant Adidas, for whom it is currently working on a large order for the World Cup.” This is the same factory owner which has prepared a list of 600 workers to be laid off due to loss. Now due to CPEC (China Pakistan Economic Corridor), capitalists are preparing another major attack on workers. The so-called Export Processing Zones or Free Economic Zones are being developed in Sialkot city. In these EPZ even Pakistani fragile labour laws don’t apply, workers don’t have even right to raise his voice or go for a strike.
Pakistan Trade Union Defence Campaign PTUDC is leading battles of workers in sports industry of Sialkot. Our fight is not only with local capitalists but also with global capital, as in past so-called human rights champions European Union capital has been exposed. During 3 days strike of Forward workers, not only Adidas group but local EU officials rushed to crush the movement. Although at present workers movements are in embryonic form however crisis of capitalism is unleashing new attacks on them. Workers are also preparing to defy all their attacks. We appeal to the workers of the world and progressive forces to be a part of this fight to eradicate capitalism from the surface of the earth.
