BBC Sport can reveal that workers are being paid a basic wage of less than £1 an hour to make official football shirts for some of the world's biggest clubs. An investigation traced authentic replica shirts for Arsenal, Celtic, Liverpool and Real Madrid to two factories in Cambodia, Bowker Garment Factory and Trax Apparel, where conditions were described as "grim".
Employees told BBC Sport they struggled to make ends meet and worked on up to 700 items a day on a production line. Workers described factory temperatures above 35C, verbal abuse when targets were missed, and safety concerns about electrical equipment. The Clean Clothes Campaign, a global workers' rights network, said the findings painted a "very grim picture".
Staff typically work six eight-hour shifts a week and receive basic monthly salaries of $210-$220 (£158-£166), which comply with local minimum-wage laws. Three payslips indicate total monthly earnings of about $300 (£226) once overtime and allowances are included, though this involves significant extra hours. One worker said she had little left after rent, food and utilities.
Research published last year suggested that of a typical £85 shirt, £37.45 goes to the retailer and £16.25 to the manufacturer. Adidas, which does not own either factory but counts them among its primary suppliers, said it carries out around 1,200 factory audits a year and works with suppliers to address issues where necessary.
Source: BBC Sport Football · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing