13 Feb 2025
The bicycle industry’s dirty secret
Zusammenfassung
Date Reported: 13 Feb 2025
Standort: Taiwan
Unternehmen
Merida & Centurion Germany - Employer , Specialized - BuyerBetroffen
Total individuals affected: 200
Wanderarbeitnehmer & eingewanderte Arbeitnehmer: ( Number unknown - Thailand , Herstellung: Allgemein , Gender not reported , Unknown migration status )Themen
Personalbeschaffungsgebühren , Einbehalten von Ausweisdokumenten , Einschüchterung & Drohungen , Willkürliche GefangennahmeAntwort
Antwort erbeten: Ja, von Journalist
External link to response: (Find out more)
Ergriffene Maßnahmen: The World Bicycle Industry Alliance, which several bicycle brands including Specialized, Scott, Trek, Canyon and Giant are part of, said it is committed to reevaluate the topic of recruitment fee charging to explore clarifications or improvements needed in its code of conduct. The reporting says: "Merida’s president said in 2024 on its website that ‘Merida has yet to adopt the Responsible Business Alliance Code of Conduct [that includes practising no-fee recruitment and reimbursing employees who paid fees] and relevant human rights policies, hence [it] has not implemented the Human Rights Due Diligence.’"
Art der Quelle: News outlet
Zusammenfassung
Date Reported: 13 Feb 2025
Standort: Taiwan
Unternehmen
Fritz Jou - Employer , Bianchi - Buyer , Canyon - Buyer , Pinarello - BuyerBetroffen
Total individuals affected: 500
Wanderarbeitnehmer & eingewanderte Arbeitnehmer: ( Number unknown - Philippinen , Herstellung: Allgemein , Gender not reported , Unknown migration status )Themen
PersonalbeschaffungsgebührenAntwort
Antwort erbeten: Ja, von Journalist
External link to response: (Find out more)
Ergriffene Maßnahmen: Comments from Pinarello, Canyon, & Bianchi are included in the reporting. Further, the World Bicycle Industry Alliance, which several bicycle brands including Canyon are part of, said it is committed to reevaluate the topic of recruitment fee charging to explore clarifications or improvements needed in its code of conduct.
Art der Quelle: News outlet
Zusammenfassung
Date Reported: 13 Feb 2025
Standort: Taiwan
Unternehmen
Maxxis International - Employer , Amaury Sport Organisation - Other Value Chain Entity , Unipublic (part of Amaury Sport Organisation) - Other Value Chain EntityBetroffen
Total individuals affected: 728
Wanderarbeitnehmer & eingewanderte Arbeitnehmer: ( 728 - Vietnam , Herstellung: Allgemein , Gender not reported , Unknown migration status )Themen
PersonalbeschaffungsgebührenAntwort
Antwort erbeten: Ja, von Journalist
External link to response: (Find out more)
Ergriffene Maßnahmen: Amaury Group refused to say if it has concerns about forced labour risks regarding sponsors or teams.
Art der Quelle: News outlet
Zusammenfassung
Date Reported: 13 Feb 2025
Standort: Taiwan
Unternehmen
Cycleurope (part of Grimaldi Industri Group) - BuyerBetroffen
Total individuals affected: Number unknown
Wanderarbeitnehmer & eingewanderte Arbeitnehmer: ( Number unknown - Location unknown , Herstellung: Allgemein , Gender not reported , Unknown migration status )Themen
Work & ConditionsAntwort
Antwort erbeten: Ja, von Journalist
External link to response: (Find out more)
Ergriffene Maßnahmen: The company says it does not accept workers paying for job, but did not commit to ensuring workers would have fees reimbursed.
Art der Quelle: News outlet
Zusammenfassung
Date Reported: 13 Feb 2025
Standort: Taiwan
Unternehmen
Kenstone Metal - Employer , Cannondale Bikes - Buyer , Cervélo - BuyerBetroffen
Total individuals affected: Number unknown
Wanderarbeitnehmer & eingewanderte Arbeitnehmer: ( Number unknown - Location unknown , Herstellung: Allgemein , Gender not reported , Unknown migration status )Themen
Work & ConditionsAntwort
Antwort erbeten: Ja, von Journalist
Art der Quelle: News outlet
…for the workers who make our bikes in Taiwanese factories, conditions are often dirty, dangerous and demeaning… Bianchi, Canyon, Centurion, Giant, Merida, Pinarello, REI, Scott, Specialized and Trek … have had bikes or components made in Taiwan…
… Maxxis, has factories here too…
…Specialized and Centurion buy from Merida; Giant supplies Trek, Scott, and until recently REI; Bianchi, Canyon and Pinarello source from Fritz Jou among others; Cannondale and Cervélo from Kenstone Metal. Cycleurope – behind brands like Crescent, Kildemoes, Monark and Puch – also sources from Taiwanese firms…
...Giant will implement a no-fee recruitment policy this year…
No other Taiwanese manufacturers replied to our requests for comment…
…Merida is a majority owner of … Centurion … and minority owner of … Specialized…
…Specialized and Trek were silent for months…Scott…told us that ‘…we are pleased to confirm that Giant has taken an important step…
…Pinarello stated, ‘…we were not aware of this alleged practice, so we started to look into this after you wrote to us.’…Canyon…stated that future recruits … will not have to pay such fees. Bianchi, Canyon, Pinarello and Cycleurope all explicitly said that they do not tolerate workers paying for jobs …
… Chunghwa Post holds Giant shares…
…Continental is a main sponsor of the Tour de France and Giro d’Italia…The Tour and the Vuelta are organised by French media conglomerate Amaury Group …The group…refused to say if it has concerns about forced labour …
[all named companies were approached for comment by the journalist]