BBC investigation: official football shirts made in Cambodia for under £1 an hour

A BBC Sport investigation has found that authentic replica shirts for some of the world's biggest clubs are made in two Cambodian factories, Bowker Garment Factory and Trax Apparel, where basic pay is under £1 an hour. Images obtained from inside the sites show kits being produced for clubs including Arsenal, Celtic, Liverpool and Real Madrid.

Working conditions

Workers, interviewed anonymously, said they handle up to 700 items a day, struggle to make ends meet and endure factory temperatures above 35C. They also described verbal abuse when targets are missed and concerns about electrical equipment. One employee said they received two electric shocks from an exposed wire, with action taken only after the second.

Five payslips seen by the BBC show basic monthly salaries of $210–$220 (about £158–£166), in line with local minimum-wage laws. Three indicate total earnings of around $300 a month once overtime and allowances are added.

Company responses

Adidas does not own either factory, but both are primary suppliers bound by its workplace standards. The company says it carries out around 1,200 audits a year and that average net wages across a sample of its Cambodian suppliers are 34% above the Anker Research Institute's living-wage benchmark. Trax acknowledged periods of elevated temperature but said cooling systems were in place and that it does not enforce output targets. Bowker did not respond, and none of the named clubs commented.

The Clean Clothes Campaign called the findings a "very grim picture", noting that many garment workers worldwide face similar problems.

Prices and counterfeits

Research published last year suggested that of a typical £85 shirt, £8.50 covers fabric, sewing and shipping, while most of the rest goes to the retailer, manufacturer, marketing and VAT. The average price of an adult replica Premier League shirt has risen 50.7% over the past decade, helping drive demand for counterfeits sold for as little as £12. The Premier League expects clubs to carry out due diligence on their kit manufacturers and supply chains.