The document discusses issues with the maquiladora system in Mexico, where factories are owned by American companies but employ Mexican workers. It notes that the majority of workers are women who face low pay, long hours, sexual harassment, and risk being fired if they become pregnant. One factory abandoned a toxic chemical plant near a river without cleaning up the waste. While the maquiladora system benefits companies through low costs, it does little to improve conditions for workers or their communities. The document questions whether NAFTA can address these inequalities and abuses.

1. Maquiladora Program
By: Aaron and Andrea

2. NAFTA Promotes the Exploitative
Maquiladora System in Mexico

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. Opinion
Maquiladoras 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.

7. Political Cartoon

9. Questions
How 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?