The demand for Levi-Strauss products is also reflected on the firm's financial statements. To fulfill this goal, Levi-Strauss has opened factories in India, Turkey, Korea, Taiwan, Hungary, and Poland. Although all manufacturing facilities have their unique problems, management at Levi-Strauss has been pleased with its foreign manufacturing operations. For example, Levi's first plant in Eastern Europe was opened in Budapest, Hungary, right next door to Texcoop, a state-owned sweater factory that had gone out of business. When employees compare operations at Texcoop with those at Levi's, they not only praise technological advances but point out that working conditions are better and that materials are always on hand when needed.
Workers are also amazed that only eight supervisors oversee the whole factory.
They would like to manufacture jeans good enough to be sold in Paris or New York as well as in Warsaw. In addition to operating its own manufacturing plants, Levi-Strauss pays foreign contractors to produce jeans, jackets, and casual apparel. Before being chosen, contractors must agree to adhere to an extensive set of guidelines that establish acceptable business conduct. Created by Levi-Strauss corporate management, the guidelines Ensure that wages comply with local laws and are competitive with local businesses. Ban the use of child and prison labor.