Response from Puma

"While some PUMA suppliers have strong worker representation systems in place and follow collective bargaining agreements, in the majority of our main sourcing countries, these enabling rights are restricted either by law or are impeded by strong cultural biases from both factory management and workers themselves. In our experience, legal frameworks that promote unionism do not result in a mature culture of workplace engagement in and of itself. Even where local regulations allow freedom of association and collective bargaining we recognize that the negative perceptions of factory management against any collective workers’ action are deeply embedded.

"In PUMA we have always maintained that setting the proper atmosphere for the responsible exercise of freedom of association is our main role, and as such we do not initiate the formation of unions in factories but we do ensure that the workers’ right to form association will not be hindered."