Meanwhile, attempts to organize independent labor unions have met with repression, including efforts at Tijuana's Han Young auto parts plant featured in our action alert. Sex discrimination in the maquilas is notorious. Human Rights Watch has documented the widespread practice of testing women for pregnancy as a condition of employment. Workers who become pregnant are sometimes fired. Women also face sexual harassment, unequal pay for the same work as men and a glass ceiling that prevents their promotion to middle management.
Some women even pay with their lives when they move to the border to find work.
As articles in this Feature point out, these murders are a grisly reminder of the social costs of free trade. Although Mexico has tough environmental laws, enforcement is lax. Companies pollute freely, degrading the border environment. Toxic waste, which should be returned to the US or other countries by law, is often stored on site, posing a health risk to both workers and surrounding communities. Border communities report a deterioration of public health ranging from respiratory problems to skin irritations and neurological disorders believed to be caused by industrial pollution.