Fact Sheet:

Bed and Bath Prestige (Thailand) became a registered company in 1994 with only 400,000 baht in capital. By 2001 this company had accumulated capital of 35 million baht. The owners are a young couple, Chaiyaphat Phothikamjorn and Auayporn Songsermprasert. The 2001 property value of Bed and Bath Prestige (Thailand) is roughly 400 million baht .

Bed and Bath subcontract to produce children’s and sports wear for many corporations including Nike, Reebok, Adidas, Levi’s, Fila, Umbro and nearly 40 brands that order through Haddad Apparel agent.

There are 5 companies related to the Phothikamjorn family namely Penny Industry [established in 1981], Lintex [established in 1988], Kennet Textiles [established in 1991], Bed and Bath [established in 1994] and Top Line Apparel [established in 1995].

Chaiphat Phothikamjorn also controls 20,000 shares in Top Line Apparel. The income accumulated from that company has increased from only 870,774.50 baht[ USD 20,000] in 1994 to 9 million baht in 1995 , 20 million baht in 1996, 51 million in 1997, 169 million 1998, 234 million 1999, 390 million 2000, and 401 million baht [USD 10 Million] in 2001. [42 Baht = 1 USD]

Bed and Bath started out with 20 workers in 1994 and had increased to 900 employees by 2002. The company also subcontracts to more than 40 small and medium sized sweatshops including many along the Thailand/ Burma border which employ mainly vastly underpaid Burmese migrant workers.

Bed and Bath lease the machines and vehicles from two big leasing companies; Bangkok Grand Pacific Public Company and City Corp (which is owned by City Bank). Hence, when the factories closed down all the machines and vehicles were taken back immediately by these two leasing companies.

Haddad apparel, founded in 1940, is a family owned and operated children’s apparel manufacturing company which markets sports brand and character licensed apparel and accessories for boys and girls in sizes 0-20. Nike, Team Sports, Avirex, Harley-Davidson, the National Football Leage (NFL), Major League Baseball (MLB), Blues Cules, and Bob the Builder are all clients. [http://www.licensingworld.com/news/html/011802.html]

Haddad Apparel Groups is one of the largest and oldest children’s apparel and accessories companies in the world. [Fila Holding S.P.A press release]

The NFL is the favorite sports league of youngsters aged 7-11. More than 40 percent of American children aged 7-11 own NFL branded clothing according to the poll. In addition to all of these sports leagues Haddad also represents brands such as Harley-Davidson, Avirex as well as others and is aligned with entertainment properties such as Nickelodeon, Warner Bros., and Mattel. Haddad produces all apparels, accessories, and hosiery for children’s wear. [www.nfl.com/news/haddad_082901.html]

10 October 2002, Bed and Bath workers demonstrate at the Ministry of Labour after the factory closed down without notice or compensation, contrary to Thai law.
11 October, negotiations were arranged at the MOL. The employer’s representative claimed that the factory had not closed and an agreement was made that on October 15th workers would be able to collect their back wages and that on October 21st the factory would resume production.

21 October, when Bed and Bath workers returned to work in keeping with the agreement struck with management they were met only with a notice in front of the factory which read “Workers who have business with Bed and Bath please wait outside, if the lawyer arrives we will inform you, thank you.”

21 October onward, 400 out of 850 workers of Bed and Bath stay and demonstrate and fight for their legal rights to back wages and compensation at the MOL.

The workers are demanding the arrest of Mr. Chaiyaphat Phothikamjorn, and Auayporn Songsermprasert, his wife.

Up until now the employers have still not been arrested. The Police have issued an arrest warrant for these owners of Bed and Bath, but have been unable to locate the pair. However, officials have given assurances that the two are still in Thailand.