The textile industry in China has made the country the world’s largest exporter of apparel. However, the Chinese manufacturing industry is undergoing rapid change, accompanied by labour shortages, rising wage costs, and global protectionism, all of which affect China’s competitiveness. The recruitment of qualified employees has become challenging due to the impacts of the one‑child policy on education and labour availability. 

In 2000, 2006, and 2011, Maier Sports GmbH established joint ventures and cooperations with Chinese partners to manufacture products for the Maier Sports and GONSO brands. The company intends to continue this long‑term strategy and cooperation, prioritising quality over short‑term cost reductions in production.

LENGHT OF SERVICE

Despite frequent job changes among employees in China, more than half of the employees in the joint‑venture companies have been with the company for more than five years, indicating a high level of employee satisfaction.

HANDLING OF SUBCONTRACTORS

Due to the very long‑standing business relationships and the resulting trust‑based cooperation with our main suppliers in China, these suppliers are permitted to independently assign subcontracting work. This allows them to operate more flexibly in the highly seasonal textile industry. The subcontracting work is assigned to so‑called subcontractors. Our main suppliers act as the link to these subcontractors, and Maier Sports GmbH is not in direct contact with them. This lack of direct contact represents a challenge for us, which is why we are in frequent exchange with our contact persons at the main suppliers. Acting on our behalf, our main suppliers communicate the relevance of the eight labour standards to the subcontractors. In addition, they support us in ensuring that Worker Information Sheets are displayed at the subcontractors’ facilities and that the questionnaire, including a commitment by factory management to the eight labour standards, is signed.