Response from Puma

"Given that labor is only one component of production, labor flexibility remains one of the key components to ensure that individual companies survive and grow. Conditions in the supply chain do not exist in a vacuum, but are affected by local and global economic and social circumstances. We understand that individuals cannot be fully flexible in the global economy; hence PUMA supports legal and extra-legal measures to ensure that worker welfare is addressed. It is guaranteed within PUMA’s Code of Conduct that all worker income must be paid on time and in accordance with local labor law. Each PUMA supplier must provide a copy of a formal working contract to employees and the vast majority of our indirect employees are hired on unlimited-period working contracts to ensure that they have continued access to benefits that accrue over the length of their service. In countries where fixed-term contracts do not impede the accrual of tenure-based benefits or rights, we do not strongly enforce open-ended contracts. We believe that there is no need to do this, as the factories themselves would want to keep their workers who have already acquired certain skills. However, we do investigate against any unlawful termination. We have also strengthened our policies and monitoring regarding apprenticeship schemes and have in fact been able to stop a few cases of questionable apprenticeship programs as part of our compliance auditing routine."