Nike Disclosing Factory Sites

After years of criticism over its labor practices abroad, Nike Inc. is disclosing for the first time the names and locations of more than 700 factories that produce its sneakers, apparel and other products.

Industry experts said the disclosure would make the Beaverton, Ore.-based sneaker giant the first major apparel manufacturer to voluntarily disclose its entire supply chain.

In the report to be released today, Nike also acknowledges that factories with which it contracted to produce goods had harassed workers and forced some to work overtime.

For years, activists have demanded that Nike and other major companies reveal where factories are located so that independent observers could go and assess the labor conditions.

Nike’s report identifies the names of 124 plants in China contracted to make its products, 73 in Thailand, 35 in South Korea, 34 in Vietnam -- with others elsewhere in Asia, as well as in South America, Australia, Canada, Italy, Mexico, Turkey and the United States.