Maquiladora ProgramBy: Aaron and Andrea

NAFTA Promotes the Exploitative Maquiladora System in Mexico

Divides within the Factory● While the majority of the factory workers are

Mexican women, the vast majority of the factory owners are American.○ Language problems.

● The pay is dismal within these factories.○ 60 hour work week gets you 400-500 pesos

($40-$50)■ Gallon of milk - 25 pesos.■ Kilo of eggs - 18 pesos.

○ Most factory workers can never afford housing.

Majority of Maquiladora workers are women.

● Factory’s construct a “disposable woman” notion on the workers.

● Will openly fire pregnant women to not pay maternity leave for her.

● Sexual Harassment is very high inside the factories.

Metales y Derivados● Government shutdown of chemical

battery plant.● Corporation abandoned the plant and

the toxic chemicals in it.● The plant is on a hillside overlooking a

river used for water supply.● NAFTA has done nothing to remedy

situation and has left the residents to find a solution.

OpinionMaquiladoras only benefit the companies who

set up for cheaper wages.NAFTA is powerless to stop the large

inequalities and abuses within these factories.

Factories barely pay above the minimum wage in Mexico and so do not add to the well being in it.

Political Cartoon

QuestionsHow can NAFTA make the maquiladora more effective?What else can be done to make working conditions better

in mexico?

Is the suffering of the workers insignificant and needed for Mexico to develop into a better nation?

Do you think the maquiladora program should be shut down and replaced with a better system?