Women Workers in the Maquiladoras and the Debate on Global Labor Standards |
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| Authors: | Edmé Domínguez Rosalba Icaza Cirila Quintero Silvia López Åsa Stenman |
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| Institution: | 1. School of Global Studies , University of Gothenburg , Konstepidemins V?g 2, Box 700, 405 30, Gothenburg, Sweden E-mail: edme.dominguez@globalstudies.gu.se;2. Department of Political Science , Linnaeus University , 91 82 Kalmar or SE-351 95 V?xj?, Sweden E-mail: edme.dominguez@lnu.se;3. Institute of Social Studies , SG2 Kortenaerkade, 12 The Hague 2518 AX, The Netherlands E-mail: icaza@iss.nl;4. Dirección General Regional Noreste , Colegio de la Frontera Norte , Calle Herrera No. 169 entre 16 y 17, Zona Centro, CP 87300, Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico E-mail: cquintero@riogrande.net.mx;5. Departamento de Estudios de Población , Colegio de la Frontera Norte , Blvd. Abelardo L. Rodríguez No. 2929, Zona Río, CP 22010, Tijuana, B. California, Mexico E-mail: slopez@colef.mx;6. School of Global Studies , University of Gothenburg , Konstepidemins V?g 2, Box 700, 405 30, Gothenburg, Sweden E-mail: asa.stenman@globalstudies.gu.se |
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| Abstract: | Abstract This paper represents a collective contribution to an ongoing debate on the benefits and disadvantages of export-based, industrial jobs for women as well as on the implications of global labor standards on these types of jobs. On the basis of extensive research on women in Mexico's and Central America's maquiladoras (assembly plants that produce export goods), this paper aims to problematize the viewpoints that present export-based, industrial jobs as dignified alternatives for women in the South and to question the skepticism about global labor standards as a possible alternative for improving work conditions in all sectors producing for export. In so doing, the paper stresses three interrelated issues: a) the relevance of local and regional contexts that inform diverse industrialization paths over time, b) the agency the women workers represent, and c) the legal instruments already existent in our common efforts to improve working conditions. |
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| Keywords: | Export-oriented growth women's labor force participation globalization labor standards maquiladoras |
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