Sports like football, volleyball and rugby bring billions of people together. And whether watching or playing the game, the centre of attention is always the ball. But the people making these sports balls are usually hidden from view, working in precarious conditions with very low incomes.
Together with consumers and traders, Fairtrade empowers workers to change this unsatisfying situation and receive their fair share of the global sports ball business.
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.
Twelve-hour shifts and six- and seven-day workweeks are common, and women and children are especially affected. 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. To supplement meagre income, workers often moonlight as smallholder farmers.
Fairtrade certifies balls for football (soccer), handball, volleyball, and rugby. The Fairtrade Standard covers all hand-stitched, machine-stitched and thermo-bonded sports balls. The great majority of Fairtrade sports balls are hand-stitched, as this method offers the best balance between performance, durability and affordability.
Without the ball, you can’t play the game. Isn’t it time for a bit of fair play for workers, too? While we can’t promise that using a Fairtrade ball means your team will win the match, at least choosing a Fairtrade ball is a win for workers.
Fairtrade products are widely available. The blue countries and territories on the map below have Fairtrade organizations that promote Fairtrade products. Their websites often include a product finder to show you the full variety of Fairtrade products near you. Even if there isn't a Fairtrade organization where you live, Fairtrade products may still be available – look for our familiar marks on products!
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