Labour Justice for Maquila Workers in La Laguna
Labor Justice for Women
Summary
This project will provide 40 women with knowledge of the labor rights so they can promote the development of strategies to defend them and thus decrease related violations.
How Donors Like You Helped
Thanks to donors like you, a total of $310 was raised for this project. Other Projects Run By Semillas That You Can Help
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Received $310 from 6 donations from people like:
tomuaj
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Karen McG.
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Lee
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(Anon.)
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More Information About this Project
Project Needs and Beneficiaries
The Maquila Industry in Mexico is well know for its precarious labor conditions. Women are especially vulnerable as they also face gender discrimination in the workplace. Long hours, inadequate pay and a lack of benefits or protection impact thousands of poor women in the Laguna region in Coahuila. Today, they also have to face the closing of many maquila factories. This project aims to educate those women about their labor rights and increase their participation in the defense of those rights.
Activities
Through workshops and communication materials, women will learn about, recognize and defend their labor rights, and improve the ability to organize themselves.
Funding Information
Total Funding Received to Date: $310
Funding Information
This project is now in implementation and no longer available for funding. Received funds will be used to accomplish concrete objectives as indicated in the project's "Activities" section. Updates will be posted under the "Progress Report" tab as they become available.
Donors' contributions and pledges to this project totaled $310 . The original project funding goal was $10,820.
Additional Documentation
This project has provided additional documentation in a Microsoft Excel file (projdoc.xls).
Why this Project is Important
Potential Long Term Impact
This project will directly educate 40 women about their labor rights, who will at the same time promote them among other women. This will increase their opportunities to advance better standards and fairer working practices.
Project Message
Thanks to the workshops and the experiences shared by other women, now I know that I have labour rights. Today I am an active member of the Workers’ Commission, through which I promote and defend them
- Cristina Ramírez Zuñiga, Beneficiary
Who is Running This Project
Contact
Paula Sanchez Mejorada
Resource Development Program Assistant
Tamaulipas 66
Con. Condesa
Mexico City, n/a 06140
Mexico
+52 (55) 55 53 01 09
Email:
Project Sponsor
Organization
Semillas
Tamaulipas 66 Col. Condesa
Mexico City,
N/A
6140
Mexico
+52 (55) 55 53 01 09
http://www.semillas.org.mx/
Semillas's Current Projects on GlobalGiving
 Community Center for Sex Workers in Mexico |
Where this Project is Located
Country
This project is located in 
Mexico
and can also be found under 
Women and Girls.
For more information about Mexico, read the Human Development Report on Mexico or the Wikipedia entry for Mexico.
When this Project was Updated
Last Updated
This project was last updated on November 6, 2009.
Date Added to GlobalGiving
This project was added to the GlobalGiving project catalog on August 16, 2007
Latest Update from the Field
Project Update
By Paula Sanchez Mejorada Ibarra - Development Assistant, October 23, 2007 05:12 PM
Results to date
October, 2007
Today, maquila workers face important challenges regarding their labor rights. The industry is characterized by: low salaries (generally between US$ 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.
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