The Best Kept Secret in North America

[nagrom355]

This sounds like an excerpt from the Warren Commission. They are trying so hard to cover the stench of death, perhaps to make you so distracted by whatever that you don't even think about it. And yes, if you take into account the unrelated killing by gang violence and then add it to the equation, yes perhaps Juarez is the new Detroit. Ok I'm going to hit post now. Should I tho? Hmmmm. I don't think that's appropriate tho. Hmmmm.

[ElleAgnes]

My favorite part: "Juarez is the new Detroit." PFFFFFFFFFFFFFFT!

[AtomicVHPunk]

If this is the best kept secret in North America than your schoolbooks must be censored because I already knew that from my geography lessons in high school in Holland, we had a whole chapter about Mexico with this kind of information

[aquilachrysaetos]

@AtomicVHPunk Don't understand your point; the titel "Best Kept Secret..." was an argument made by the CEO of an Asian company that visited Juarez. The objective of the video is to show industrial capabilities to attract more FDI. Why do you relate it to school books?

[AtomicVHPunk]

@aquilachrysaetos my point is that it seemed like Northern Americans didn't know what is shown in this video and that it therefore seemed to be censored at your schools and media which is in my opinion almost never a good thing with a few exceptions

I just wanted to point that out, and partly I wanted to share my disappointment after viewing a part of this video, I expected something more exciting then something I already knew

[thc2468]

@AtomicVHPunk quit bitching you dumbass

[AtomicVHPunk]

@aquilachrysaetos oh wait I'm sorry! I'm totally off topic here.. never mind the bullocks ;) pretend like I never said a word :P

[mrpumas900]

These factories did very little or nothing to help Mexico. I see no change 15yr later, people still living in the same hole.

[aquilachrysaetos]

@mrpumas900 Lie; there are clear advances, and still more to do! But throw a whole set of statistics here is unreasonable; make your research on formal sites like Global Insight, The Conference Board, and other entities making studies; yes, there are bad things as a result, but a lot of good things, like improvements in quality of living, in income and knowledge. We could be doing a lot better, but we are still trying to.

[aquilachrysaetos]

Come on! I watched Superman and don't believe there is actually a guy flying over us like him.

Use a reasonable argument to debate, don't use a BS movie to debate... please!

[Acecool444]

Watch the movie "BORDER TOWN" Jennifer Lopez and Antonia Banderez

Not only are there drug related killings, but hundreds of young factory women from all over Mexico since 1993 are being beaten, raped, strangled, then buried or thrown into mass graves. many local residents believe that the true count stands at an estimated 5,000 victims. Most of the cases remained unsolved as of 2003, and are still unsolved today (Mexican Police & Free Trade Agreement cover up is why you don't hear about it.)

[m0thland]

Fucking disgusting. Sto[ the murders. Actually support the local community. Stop this fucking femicide.

[wtfdouno]

It is disgusting! Reminds me of the footage the Nazi's shot of their "workcamps" to show the "humane" treatment of the "prisoners" - all bull---t. How about interviewing the workforce there - of course they'd have to be disguised in order to tell you that they aren't allowed to go to the bathroom/get drinks of water, paid 50.00 a week, working 48 hours minimum a week, and women DIE trying to return home and are found dead in the desert, many times mutilated and/or raped!

[bebetodo11]

Mexican goberment only cares about big bussines, big money, and rich people. Poor people is never been their priority. They do not give them even a place to speak out their cry for help. They can be drug cartels smuggling drugs and killing women(poor) as long as it does not interupt factories producction and money coming in...everything would be just fine.Looking for guilty ones??? MEXICAN GOBERMENT IS THE ANSWER.

[CindyJolie]

STOP THE MURDERS IN JUAREZ!

[aquilachrysaetos]

@CindyJolie That's what we wish, but not good results; I imagine that all is part of a market and legal failure.

[goonie593]

@CindyJolie damned you are so right much respect

[behavetwo]

Nice place to do business, then do something to protect the women. Hire women to protect women, as men have failed to protect the so many women that have been brutalized. Teach all you kids that under no sircustances a person has the right to abuse or physically harm any other human being. AND a woman is not your property, you have no right to harm her no matter what.

[ceomeye]

come...you know that the crooks want to use slave labor to make themselves rich. The mexican government does not have the backbone to recognize that Mexicans can better and one #1 nation. We understand that we have some fukn spaniards and european subverting mexican pollitics and its economics. Even the fukn koreans can show their demonic side face. Come on Mexicans....wake up...these fukers want to enslave you...

[0Leaves]

Juarez is also where 500 + women have been brutally murdered after walking home from work from these American factories. What are the factories doing to protect their women workers - nothing. The people of Juarez have been brutalized overall by NAFTA and "free trade". I say keep business as local as possible and empower people in their communities.

[serpadms]

Hey Gunnarsguns, so you will be working for less of 4.00 and hour, in the U.S, Jaja, no seas pendejo.

[Gunnarsguns]

So after they suck all of the money and jobs out of the US then what? Answer....we go to third world status. And with the recent economic meltdown this may happen very quickly

[t2ess]

Do you really believe that the reason these companies are operating in Mexico is to help improve economic growth for Mexico? I know the cost of living is cheaper in Juarez but tell me how well the people who work in Juarez are actually doing? How are their living conditions? And who is protecting the women of Juarez? Women that make up most of the workforce in these maquiladores? So who is really benefiting here? This would never fly in the US and honestly it's a travesty.

[aquilachrysaetos]

Companies operating here, do so to increase profit, as any company worldwide. It is simply an economic theory argument (businesses exist to make profit).

People in Juarez should be doing better, but without the maquila project, what would we be doing? Any idea? Women make up to 55% of the workforce in the maquila given official stats.

Who's benefiting? Those companies, their consumers, and our people... we have to keep improving, but that doesn't mean that we should quit.

[aquilachrysaetos]

Yes, automobile industry is in deep recession. Sad situation, but we look forward for a better time. Now, why criticize a new "Detroit". Don't you earn in that city a $70/hour in average in the automotive industry?

[delloydbu]

THIS IS CHEAP LABOR PERIOD!!!!!

[aquilachrysaetos]

We expect a better period! just joking... you didn't meant season, isn't? This is an effort to bring better chances to people around here. Why are you mad?

[videishon]

juarez is the new detroit?? yuuuk!

[sangamonjack]

Why is it these sort of propaganda vids never mention the real attraction for the big corporation employing Brazillian, Mexican, Indonesian, or Korean labor? Charge that fat American price without paying that fat American wage. Keep that surplus cash while the once proud American middle class, now without health insurance, does the execs hair and nails, or mows and maintains their summer estate.

[SmutLord]

Ya and El Paso and Across the border are both shit holes. Trash all over, people don't care about how the area looks they just throw it on the side of the road. And on the Mexican side people are getting wacked all the time. Never live or go their, oh and if you don't speak Spanish and only English good luck getting a job.

[conor1977]

they forgot to mention the sky high crime and rape murder in the the city. that place is worse than bagdad. 100's of women get killed every year

[aquilachrysaetos]

No, we didn't forgot our problems. We promote investments to improve the economy and try (as private sector) to come up with solutions to our problems. Do you know another way to solve them? Please let us know, we will be glad to get new information and alternative solutions.

[aquilachrysaetos]

Last part:

Juarez is not the greatest place on earth to live, invest or work; but be shure, that if you try any of those activities here, you won't be disappointed. And if your purpose is only to gather knowledge, this is a great site to do it.

A warranty; we are working to achieve better standards every day. Please, don't hesitate to keep asking.

[aquilachrysaetos]

Fifth part:

In the north of Mexico, our culture has not promoted union usage. A counter balance fact is the "turn over" (highly costly to maquiladoras), which stabilize the market and treatment to employees.

There are excellent examples of great Human Resource management such as ADC, Flextronics, Delphi, Scientific Atlanta, Lexmark, where operators grow professionally. If an employee is mistreated, hi/she simply changes the company looses, because of hiring costs.

[aquilachrysaetos]

Fourht part:

Our legal framework allows for workers to organize. Besides unions for government workers, all are non-government controlled. They are regularly linked to political parties, but not controlled by them.

[aquilachrysaetos]

Third part:

The Mexican legal framework in labor market states shifts of 8 hours, and not work per hour. Given this, a worker regularly works a regular shift for the whole month and earns its salary completely. In some instances, as now with deceleration in automotive industry, there are labor agreements, which cuts hours to that standard shift.

And this year hasn't been all good... remember that in the US you have a recession and we are highly dependable upon that economy.

[aquilachrysaetos]

Second part:

Our MIN wage is approximately $5 dollars a shift (8 hr/shift). A Maquila worker (over 250,000) earns in average between 2 and 3 minimum wages, including public and private benefits.

Don't compare this figure without notice of cost of living (for low class around $500 dollars a month). Without current worldwide economic conditions, quality of life was in a good trend. Nowadays worsened, but expect to improve during 2009.

The answers to the other questions in other message

[aquilachrysaetos]

Good questions.

This is a promotional video, and that is why is focused on good things. We don't deny our problems but keep working to solve them, including increasing quality of life for all citizens here.

The answers to the other questions in other message

[john3427]

They only show you the "good" things in this video.

How much do the people who work there actually earn?

How many hours a week do they earn?

Do they have the right to organise themselves? And if you say yes, how many of them are organised in independent (i.e. not government controlled) unions?

[aquilachrysaetos]

Yes, they are good places. What is your idea from a maquiladora?

Whenever you have a chance to visit Juarez, you might become amazed from the different world we are trying to build, and what opposites think about it.

[slimydick23]

This was a very good and informative video. Up until now I had only heard BS about factory conditions, but those seem to be nice places to work. If I lived in Juarez I'd be happy to have a job in one of those factories.

[xThe420x]

you'd be happy to have a job here in juarez (in a maquiladora)?? that is because you dont know how much they pay for 45 hours of work a week!! shall we start at 60 dollars? because that is the MOST you will get at the 'good paying' plants. usually it is about 45-55 dollars a 45 hour week. but hey, if you are ever in town, let me know and i'll make you sure you at least get one of the jobs where you actually DON'T have to stand up for your whole 9 hour workday, ok??

[aquilachrysaetos]

Your misunderstood is based on your ignorance over purchasing power and the poverty around here (Mexico). We need to get jobs and raise purchasing power, more than nominal salaries. If someone from an agricultural sector with 0 earnings, come here, they have a chance to improve a little bit their life standard. Our goal is to keep working to grow more as a community. Would you have an alternative? Please state it so we can consider it.

[davidhe123]

you dont owe me anything!

you guys rob the world of its morals you owe the families of the people who work for you.

you can sit in your high chair and throw words around to make shit sound like everything is okay. but its not people like you rob the world of its values, i dunno how you can sleep at night.

youdont like the language then FUCK off

[aquilachrysaetos]

I rob the world of its morals? You have to be kidding. You just say amazing things. You don't have an argument. You just have access to the Internet and write without any sense. Amazing; by the way, what are you doing for your country? What are you doing for your life. And please, cut, it off with your offensive language or abstain participation.

[aquilachrysaetos]

Ok, what do you hate? You seem to hate everything. Do you have an alternative, or are you just standing to criticize others? And again, why such language? Do I owe you something?

[davidhe123]

man hate this.

youre just some prick i hate what you stand for

fuck you and fuck your compnay

[aquilachrysaetos]

which "damn" video (why you use such language? are you mad?) You don't get it. If we do not negotiate to bring the maquilas, that are completely different from what you have in mind, we wouldn't have anything... and by that term I mean it. But what can we expect... you are a kid playing in school... whenever you have people under your responsibility, may be you will understand.

[dmanthree]

Maquiladoras treat their workers horribly.

Many women have to work early and end up getting off of work at midnight. It is dangerous for women to have to go home so late at night.

There are over 500 women missing and the majority of the women who were missing are workers at the maquiladoras. Many of the missing women have also been brutally beaten and raped.

Search MAQUILÁPOLIS [result 2] for a preview of a documentary about the women who work at Maquiladoras.

[aquilachrysaetos]

Distorted information. Maquiladoras regularly have 3 shifts: 7 AM-3:30 PM (30 minutes for meals); 4 PM-11 PM (A mixed shift night and day, has less than 8 hours) and 11:30 AM - 6:30 AM. Overtime exists regularly, but goes into 3 more hours of their regular shift, so make your math. Most employees of the 250,000 in Juarez work in the morning shift.

[aquilachrysaetos]

More... Your opinion is biased towards the said of certain social leaders. Out of the little more than 350 maquila programs out here, many have state of the art infrastructure and care for their people. Other with less financial capacity to offer it, has regular standards. People here punish bad treatment by quitting those jobs and moving into another maquiladora. That's why high rotation and low unemployment. Maquilas with misbehavior tend to loose rapidly.

[aquilachrysaetos]

Finally, if your opinion is biased towards a racial or a hate perspective, I can't do much for explaining our actions. We haven't found alternatives yet, and yes, we should look for them. But in the last 40 years, the best alternative, and the reason for having Juarez as one of the best economies in my country and even in Latin America, is precisely the Maquiladora. Sorry if it's getting jobs from the US; it's part of a free market economy in a global world. Find alternatives too.

[dmanthree]

Did you watch the DAMN VIDEO! It is a documentary of the lives of the women that work there. Plus taking Chicano Studies classes I've also learned from the worker perspective.

You are talking like you run the damn place.

[dostoyevskyfan]

So I suppose that all the sewage and toxic waste spilled daily into the rivers and waterways of Mexico and toxic chemicals and industrial exhaust is helping the people a whole bunch in the long run.

OK, so they get pennies an hour and that's better than they got from Mexican companies 45 years ago- but who will pay for their cancer treatment and lung problems in the future?? Be careful about calling a few cents more "a better life"

[aquilachrysaetos]

Your problem is misinformation. You talk about situations from the past. Our river is without water so cannot be polluted. Sewage is safe environmentally. Maquiladoras comply with regulations as far as I know. We don't compete in terms of salary, because here is expensive (not as in the US, but it is). We have poverty and social problems, true; but are working. Our chance are third generation maquildoras, with higher salaries and better governments. If you have an idea, let us know

[dostoyevskyfan]

You can choose a positive effect of and justify it all day long while denying harmful effects to other people and the environment.

OK then, I advocate rape. It works so well for 50% of those involved. Half of the people involved in rapes have a great time.

You can always find a positive, but it's the overall effect that should be counted. You have to remember- those factories and workers will soon be abandoned too. There is always cheaper labor out there.

Have fun in those times!

[dostoyevskyfan]

I find it interesting that the person who posted the video keeps arguing that profit is not the motive for outsourcing, but rather it is to create a better life for people.

So why does your very short description of the video say "video of CJ regarding it's competitive advantages." Why is the video about economic advantages and not about creating a better life for people?

[aquilachrysaetos]

Competitive advantages are a way to achieve economic development and therefore quality of life. Yes, as part of the capitalist system, some might earn profits and it is not bad. But yes, Juarez is better now I believe than 45 years ago.

[aquilachrysaetos]

Moving back companies to their original sites? Well, let me tell you something. More than 2/3 of these companies do not have a one-country origin capital... they are bursatilized companies owned by world wide shareholders... yes, willing to obtain more profit, but not only by cost reduction, but by improvement of their companies including their employees.

[aquilachrysaetos]

Electrolux makes a great number of fridges and washing machines used everywhere worldewide, with the best quality.

We have to keep moving on economic development; sweatshops where installed here back in the 60s and 70s. Nowadays you have big and clean companies providing better salaries to their emnployees. There is a lot to do yet, but we believe that without production sharing techinques, no one world wide would be able to improve.

[aquilachrysaetos]

Companies like Delphi design the vehicles consumed in the US here; not built... designed by Mexican Engineers. Johnson Controls hires accountants to work on payroll of their companies in big numbers. ADC on electronic equipment, has the best kindergarden in Latin America for their employees. Lexmark (printing utilities), you could have your meal on their floor and it will be cleaner than a dish just washed on a hot wate dishswasher.

[svaud097]

I'd might see a "way" to ameliorate a bit the situation, which would be to delocalise companies and keep the same standards as they have in their own country.

But I have a dilemma around the term "economical development". I will not give any examples of what is going on around the world, because I don't want people like you to develop more these ideas.

[aquilachrysaetos]

You are right on the reason why companies move abroad. But partially. Companies like Toyota moved to San Antonio, TX, for marketing purposes. Haier, TV maker from China, was established on Atlanta for the same purpose. If you se the type of "maquilas" over here, you will find more than sweatshops.

[svaud097]

Your job is to promote exploitation. Development is just another word for colonization.

[aquilachrysaetos]

So how do you think we should handle the way out to achieve a better quality of life for people? I mean, we are trying not only to bring jobs, but better paid jobs in better environments. What is your proposal so we could change our objectives?

[svaud097]

I think that the root of the problem is the economical development. I don't see any conciliation through establishing a sweatshop in Mexico or anywhere else in the world and through to end exploitation. I'm sure you will not agree with what I just wrote, but question the reason why companies want to move abroad. I don't think it's to help poor countrise to get out of misery, it is more the make better profit, to be more competitive.

[leotllz]

The FEMICIDES in this area? Does everyone just care about profits.

[aquilachrysaetos]

No, we don't care only about profits. We actually care about a better quality life standard, which includes security not only for women but also for men. Our job is to promote investments in the region. Do you think that we only should talk about Feminicides? As far as I understand many of those crimes has been legally solved; a wide effort needs to be done to inform people about dangers, but my job is another one; my job is to promote development.

[conor1977]

iraq and bagdad get all the press. but the truth is that there is more people getting murdered in places like this and there is no war on!

[aquilachrysaetos]

Yes, it's true. The war on drugs overhere is too harmful. But over the long run we expect rationale and good faith will impose over this sad actions. Besides that, I imagine that you do understand that we cannot hide in our homes or simply run away. We keep working to improve our economy, looking forward for a sustainable development.