Working Conditions
Working conditions in maquiladoras are described to be poor, run-down, dirty facilities that are usually poorly ventilated. Workers work long hours with little breaks in between and no benefits. The work done in maquiladoras is low-skilled labor which makes workers in the maquila replaceable, and jobs unstable. Maquilas throughout Mexico have been criticized for their poor or complete lack of training of employees who handle or are exposed to dangerous chemicals and waste during their work shifts. The experiences of workers who work in the maquila sector ranges, but compared to the U.S. and other jobs in Mexico, work in the maquilas can be categorized as poor.
Safety
Safety is one of the greatest areas of concern in maquiladoras.
Training Maquiladora workers are often poorly trained or not trained at all even when their tasks involve handling or being around dangerous chemicals. Several research polls and studies have been conducted about this issue, finding that Maquiladora administration and upper management often fail to provide their workers with a Material Safety Data Sheet and/or protective gear as required by the Mexican law. |
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Safety Equipment
Along with poor to no training, another area of concern is the lack of, outdated, or malfunctioning machinery. Because of the little maintenance and regulation by the Mexican government inside the factories, companies do not feel pressured to keep machinery updated or properly functioning for the safety of their workers. Many accidents ranging from serious burns to chopped off limbs yearly are not uncommon in maquiladoras. (Source: http://www.law.fsu.edu/journals/transnational/vol15_1/Kagan.pdf ) |