Why this Project is Important

Potential Long Term Impact

This project will directly educate 40 women about their labor rights, who will at the same time promote them among other women. This will increase their opportunities to advance better standards and fairer working practices.

Project Message

Thanks to the workshops and the experiences shared by other women, now I know that I have labour rights. Today I am an active member of the Workers’ Commission, through which I promote and defend them
- Cristina Ramírez Zuñiga, Beneficiary

Who is Running This Project

Contact

Paula Sanchez Mejorada,
Resource Development Program Assistant
Tamaulipas 66
Con. Condesa
Mexico City, n/a 06140
Mexico
+52 (55) 55 53 01 09
Email:

Project Sponsor

Women's Funding Network

Organization

Learn more about Semillas and the project team.

Semillas's Funded Projects on GlobalGiving

Labor Rights for Women in Mexican Factories	Indigenous women's business training in Mexico	Indigenous women's business training in Mexico	Health education for rural Oaxacan women
Promoting Education for Indigenous Girls in Mexico

Where this Project is Located

Country

This project is located in Mexico and can also be found under Women and Girls.

For more information about Mexico, read the Human Development Report on Mexico or the Wikipedia entry for Mexico.

When this Project was Updated

Last Updated

This project was last updated on October 23, 2007.

Date Added to GlobalGiving

This project was added to the GlobalGiving project catalog on August 16, 2007.

Latest Update from the Field

Project Update

By Paula Sanchez Mejorada Ibarra - Development Assistant, October 23, 2007 05:12 PM

Labor Justice for Maquila Workers in La Laguna

Results to date
October, 2007


Today, maquila workers face important challenges regarding their labor rights. The industry is characterized by: low salaries (generally between US$ 15 and US$ 50 per week); low or non existent benefits; short term contracts; precarious hygiene and security conditions; discrimination and sexual harassment; unjustified dismissal without compensation; unpaid overtime; and repression of independent unions. The current crisis affecting the maquila industry, especially the restructuring of the textile and garment sectors which have been traditionally important centers of employment for women, has further complicated the panorama. The growing number of closures of factories as international brands and investors shift production to countries with lower labour costs is resulting in high rates of unemployment, a pressure to reduce salaries and working conditions of those remaining employed in the formal sector, and an increase in outsourcing to small workshops and home-based workers. At the same time, the auto-parts sector is opening an increasing number of maquiladoras in Mexico. However in this sector, working conditions are not necessarily better and there is a need for NGO’s and workers groups to think in different and innovative ways to better address the issue of working conditions within this developing industry.


Despite this panorama, since it started in December 2006, this project has had important achievements:

- From January to March 2007, 50 home visits to maquila workers were carried out in order to invite them to participate in the trainings and workshops.
- To the date, 2 “Labor Rights” workshops have been held with maquila workers.
- 20 workers know their labor rights and promote them among their colleagues.
- 1000 pamphlets with information about labor rights have been handled in to maquila workers.
- A conference on sexual harassment in the workplace was held with maquila workers, NGOs’ representatives and labor authorities.
- Project leaders have participated in trainings and workshops with Semillas in order to strengthen their own capacities.

Comment on this update | Subscribe to "Updates from the Field" by E-Mail

How Else You Can Help