Factory Investigations
The WRC has conducted hundreds of factory investigations in more than two dozen countries, many in response to complaints from workers and worker organizations. You can browse case summaries, full public reports, and related documents and background information for many of these investigations below. Reports include detailed information on findings, the WRC’s recommendations for remedies (from reinstatement of illegally fired workers, to urgent safety improvements, to back pay) and whether or not brands and factories have implemented these remedies. Click on a factory name in the results to view the case summary and links to the full report and other documents.
PT Pungkook Indonesia One
Country: Indonesia
Last Updated: 2025
Issues: Freedom of Association Violations
A WRC investigation found that, after the formation of a new union to address failure to provide paid leave and protections for pregnant workers, Pungkook Indonesia One terminated the worker who was elected as the union secretary, discriminatorily transferred the job tasks of the three union representatives. One of the three union representatives was also…
Stretchline Central America
Country: Honduras
Last Updated: 2025
Issues: Wage Theft
In 2024, Stretchline Central America, located in Honduras, announced its upcoming closure and informed its workers that they would not receive full payment of their severance and other terminal benefits. The WRC engaged the factory’s owners, pressing them to honor their legal obligations, and, in response, the company reversed course and agreed to pay the…
Jasper
Country: Honduras
Last Updated: 2025
Issues: Freedom of Association Violations
Following the 2022 closure of the Hanesbrands Incorporated (HBI)-owned factory in Honduras, known as Jasper, workers alleged, and the WRC confirmed, that HBI illegally blacklisted employees who were elected union leaders at Jasper. The blacklisting was discrimination against the worker leaders, who were denied opportunities for rehiring at another nearby HBI-owned facility. The WRC engaged…
Hong Seng Knitting
Country: Thailand
Last Updated: 2024
Issues: Wage Theft, Wrongful Termination
WRC affiliate universities have continued to engage with Nike on this case. However, Nike’s position remains unchanged. It continues to ignore overwhelming evidence of worker coercion reported by the WRC, asserting that thousands of workers at Hong Seng voluntarily chose to forgo wages that they were legally owed. In support of its position, Nike cites an audit it commissioned from a for-profit contract monitoring firm, Elevate, but Nike refuses…
South China Headwear (Shenzhen) Co. Limited
Country: China
Last Updated: 2024
Issues: Health & Safety Violations, Overtime Violations, Statutory Benefit Violations, Wage and hour violations, Wage Theft
In 2024, the WRC conducted its investigation of the factory after being informed by the licensee, Vantage Apparel, that an audit conducted under the Sedex 4 program by the auditing company, LRQA, found that South China Headwear had remedied the violations the WRC had previously identified, including the factory’s previous failure to provide workers a…
Industrial Hana
Country: Guatemala
Last Updated: 2024
Issues: Wage Theft
Industrial Hana, a garment factory in Guatemala, permanently closed operations in October 2023, failing to pay legally required severance to approximately 250 employees. The factory produced garments, under subcontracting relationships with other local manufacturers, for Lucky Brand (owned by Authentic, SPARC, and Shein), American Eagle Outfitters, and Puma. The WRC engaged with factory buyers and,…
Heart and Mind Apparel Co., Ltd.
Country: Thailand
Last Updated: 2024
Issues: Wage Theft
A Worker Rights Consortium (WRC) investigation found that, at the time of its closure, Heart and Mind, a garment factory located in Nakhon Pathom, Thailand, denied 98 of its employees approximately $150,000 in legally owed severance, of which roughly $78,000 is still unpaid. The factory had supplied children’s clothing to PVH Corp. (Tommy Hilfiger), El…
Wing Star Shoes
Country: Cambodia
Last Updated: 2024
Issues: Freedom of Association Violations
The WRC’s investigation uncovered severe retaliatory actions against workers who formed an independent union. After establishing the union to address grievances, factory management took the following unlawful actions: Mr. Chan was held in prison until August 19, 2024, the same day that the appeal of his conviction was heard in court—at which point, the prosecutor…
Grupo Merlet
Country: El Salvador
Last Updated: 2024
Issues: Freedom of Association Violations, Wrongful Termination
A WRC investigation found that Grupo Merlet, located in El Salvador, violated local law and university codes of conduct when it illegally fired a union leader who was protected from dismissal under Salvadoran law. Following the WRC’s investigation and recommended corrective actions, the company agreed to remedy the violations by providing back pay to the…
Style Avenue S.A.
Country: El Salvador
Last Updated: 2024
Issues: Abuse and Harassment, Freedom of Association Violations, Health & Safety Violations, Overtime Violations, Statutory Benefit Violations, Wage Theft, Wrongful Termination
Style Avenue was found to have multiple and repeated labor rights violations, including forced overtime, illegal terminations, verbal abuse by management, failure to respect freedom of association, locking workers in the factory, excessive heat, and unsanitary conditions.