"CLW Statement on Arrest of Four Labor Activists", 9 Jan 2016

After detaining seven labor activists for more than a month, on January 8 the Chinese government formally arrested four of the activists…The activists were arrested in part for providing assistance to striking workers at the Lide Shoe Factory in 2014-15. The fundamental reason that workers at Lide went on strike is because the company failed to pay legally entitled benefits to workers for many years, accumulating massive arrears. Workers organized to negotiate and strike for backpay when the company prepared to relocate…

Based on recent interviews conducted by CLW with Lide workers, Lide manufacturers products for Calvin Klein (owned by PVH), Jimlar (owned by Li & Fung), Wolverine, and Stride Rite (owned by Wolverine). CLW sent letters to each of these companies on January 6, 2016, calling on them to communicate with Lide and the local government to secure the release of the detained labor activists…

[Business & Human Rights invited PVH/Calvin Klein, Li & Fung and Wolverine to respond.

PVH/Calvin Klein provided its response

Li & Fung and Wolverine have not yet responsed]