The sports ball industry

Stitching a ball is detail-oriented work: a football typically consists of 20 hexagonal and 12 pentagonal panels that must first be cut, then bound together with 18 metres of yarn and 650 precision stitches. Factories in Pakistan are responsible for about 70 percent of all hand-stitched sports balls, with China, India, Thailand and Vietnam also major players in the industry.

The prevalence of twelve-hour shifts and six- or seven-day workweeks affects many, with women and children being particularly impacted by these extended labour practices. Workers who stitch the balls together are typically paid per unit completed rather than per hour. Women, who represent a large share of the industry’s workforce, regularly face discrimination and harassment. Because of the low wages they receive, many workers keep their children out of school to stitch balls from an early age.

Current challenges

The production of sports balls, emblematic of athleticism and competition, often conceals the harsh realities faced by the workers in this sector.

• Piece rate payment: A concerning practice is the compensation structure tied to piece rates rather than hourly wages. Workers, often paid per unit produced, are susceptible to exploitation as they strive to meet unrealistic production targets at the expense of their own welfare
• Child labour: Regrettably, the sports ball industry has been marred by instances of child labour. Children, instead of pursuing education and play, find themselves engaged in labour-intensive tasks within manufacturing units. This not only robs them of their childhood but also perpetuates a cycle of poverty, hindering their prospects for a better future.
• Women's rights: Gender disparities persist in the sports ball industry, with women facing unequal treatment and limited opportunities. Discrimination in hiring practices, wage gaps, and inadequate maternity protection are issues that undermine the rights of female workers.
  

“We believe [Fairtrade] will certainly make our factories’ work environment safer and healthier for our employees, which will lead to the reduction of both turnover and absenteeism. This intervention will certainly help & increase customers’ confidence in our product and its quality.”

Malik M Jamil, General Manager HR & Compliances Vision Technologies, Sialkot, Pakistan

How Fairtrade makes a difference

Fairtrade believes fair play on the pitch should be matched by fair pay and working conditions for the workers in Pakistan and India who earn their living making the balls on which football and other sports depend. The Fairtrade Standard covers hand-stitched, machine-stitched and thermo-bonded sports balls. 

• Better working conditions: Workers must receive at least the legal minimum or regional average wage from the time of initial certification, with companies obliged to increase wages over time. In addition, Fairtrade provides health and safety training for workers and management in the sports ball industry. 
  
• The Fairtrade Premium: Currently 10 percent of the commercial price goes directly to the workers who, through a democratically-elected committee, decide for themselves how to spend it. The Fairtrade Premium has been used to fund free eye care and check-ups, water purification points for both workers and the local community, free bus services for women workers, free health checks and treatment if needed. 
• Gender equality: Fairtrade promotes gender equality through its Standards, which require no gender discrimination; zero tolerance of sexual harassment; no pregnancy testing when recruiting; support for disadvantaged and minority groups; and mandatory gender policies.
  

Fairtrade sports balls are good for people, planet and business. Find out how your company can get involved.