Official Football Shirts Made in Cambodia Linked to Low-Paid Factory Workers
Workers producing official football shirts made in Cambodia for clubs including Arsenal, Celtic, Liverpool and Real Madrid receive basic monthly salaries that can amount to less than £1 an hour, according to a BBC Sport investigation published on 8 October 2026.
The investigation traced authentic replica shirts to Bowker Garment Factory and Trax Apparel, two Cambodian factories where workers described difficult conditions, including temperatures above 35C, pressure to meet production targets and concerns about electrical safety.
About 3,400 people work at Bowker on the outskirts of Phnom Penh, while another 3,200 work at Trax Apparel about 10 miles away. Most of the workers are women. Production includes sewing, ironing and packaging, with fabric imported from Thailand and Vietnam.
Five payslips reviewed by BBC Sport showed basic monthly salaries at Bowker of between $210 and $220 (£158-£166). Three indicated total monthly earnings of about $300 (£226) after overtime and allowances, although workers had worked significant additional hours.
The investigation also found that employees could work on hundreds of items a day. Workers reported temperatures above 35C and said they faced verbal abuse when production targets were missed. One worker also described being shocked by exposed electrical wiring. These accounts were provided anonymously and supported by documentary evidence reviewed by BBC Sport.
The findings put renewed attention on football shirt factory wages as the prices of official club shirts continue to rise. Research cited by BBC Sport estimated that, from a typical £85 shirt, £8.50 covers fabric, sewing and shipping, while £37.45 goes to the retailer, £16.25 to the manufacturer, £9.50 to marketing and £13.60 to VAT.
Adidas does not own either factory but identifies them as primary suppliers subject to its workplace standards. The company said it conducts about 1,200 factory audits each year and works with suppliers to address workplace issues.
Adidas has separately reported that net wages at eight Cambodian factories in its 2023 data set averaged $302 and were 34% above the applicable GLWC-Anker living-wage reference value. The company says the figures are factory averages rather than individual worker earnings.
Trax said average monthly employee earnings range from $305 to $342 (£230-£258) in 2026. Bowker did not respond to BBC Sport’s request for comment.
The investigation raises further questions about working conditions behind official football shirts made in Cambodia, while Adidas and other sportswear companies continue to face scrutiny over labour standards across their supply chains.