**NOTE** the purpose of this lecture is to provide some Œmeso¹ data regarding the location of maquiladoras and general conditions of life on the assembly line**

 

Mexico Maquiladoras

 

1. the Border Region

a. Area

 

b. Population

 

 

1995 Population

2000 Population

2010 Population

2020 Population

Medium Projections

Border total

10,585,265

12,145,349

15,397,768

19,460,216

US subtotal

5,827,439

6,438,616

7,604,430

8,957,028

Mexican subtotal

4,757,826

5,706,733

7,793,338

10,503,188

c.  Migration:

Many maquila workers immigrate to the area from other parts of Mexico. They are often  unable to rely upon their families for basic services, support, or protection from abuse as is common in other parts of Mexico.

 

 

2. Maquila Industry

a. Structure of the Maquila Industry

 

 

 

b. Origins of Maquila Factories

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

No. of Women Working in the Maquiladora Industry: 472,423

 

"In the early days women made up as much as 80% of the assembly plant workforce, today they number close to 60%. While they can legally be hired at the age of 16, it is common for these girl-women to get false documents in order to go to work at ages as young as 12, 13 or 14." (Mexican Labor News & Analysis, 3/2/1999, v4, no4)

 

Wages of Maquila Workers

 

Minimum Wage

Mexico - $3.40 per day vs. US - $5.15 per hour

 

Example: Hourly compensation costs for production workers in manufacturing

Mexico - $1.21 vs US - $17.70

(Global Trade Watch, The NAFTA Index, October 1, 1998)

Market basket

 

Example: Case of Workers from Auto Trim de Mexico S. A. de C. V

Work Schedule: 40 hours per week

Daily wage: $8.29

Minimum wage (Geographic Area A): $3.44 per day

Wage per hour: $1.04

Weekly salary: $58.09

Discount for union dues (4%): $2.32

Net pay: $55.77

 

Amount leftover per week for clothes, shoes, entertainment and medical attention: $2.03

 

Declining Condition of Border Women¹s Market Basket:

 

"According to the December 16, 1998 issue of Mexican Labor News and Analysis, in 1987 a worker had to work 8 hours and 47 minutes to buy the basic food basket for a family of four. Today it takes 34 hours."