Abstract
We present results from a research project whose purpose was to explore the workplace determinants that affect the living conditions of indigenous Mexican female agricultural workers by focusing on the difference in working conditions and workplace policies between EFI-certified farms and non-certified ones. The process of globalization has not only led to increased migration but also to the feminization of labor in agroindustry characterized by precarious work conditions. This study provides a glimpse into the depth of the structural inequalities that mark the lives and experiences of the women under study. A qualitative approach was used by conducting four group interviews in two locations of the California Central Coast to obtain information about participants’ living and work conditions, and the kind of information they have regarding their labor rights. Among the results, we found that in both types of farms labor conditions are equally harsh and work benefits are insufficient to guarantee an integral state of health and well-being. The women’s vulnerability is increased because they often are unaware of their labor rights and have little access to education and key social services. The cumulative character of the inequalities they face hinders personal development and improvements in socioeconomic well-being and health. The information we present underlines the need for decent working conditions and a more active involvement on the part of human rights organizations and greater support from Mexican governmental institutions and their representations in the United States.
Presenters
Concepción Martínez-ValdésFull time Professor, Facultad de Ciencias Administrativos y Sociales, Universidad Autónoma de Baja California, Baja California, Mexico Lourdes Camarena-Ojinaga
Full time Professor, Facultad de Ciencias Administrativos y Sociales, Universidad Autónoma de Baja California, Baja California, Mexico
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
KEYWORDS
Globalization, Indigenous female migration, Precarious labor, Social inequalities, Human rights
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