|
Benefits of maquiladora employees As with most U.S. domestic companies employee benefits associated with maquiladora's are broken down into three general categories. The
first of those benefits are those mandated by law, followed by those that are negotiated through Union contracts and finally those that are given via the specific company policies and procedures. The benefits and
labor laws of Mexico that apply to all Mexican Nationals employed by foreign owned companies are very much pro-labor. By law, benefits include government mandated items such as:
- Paid holidays 10-11 days for most companies - Paid vacations 6-10 paid vacation days for first year of employment depending on Union contract negotiated. - An additional 25 percent of pay on the
amount of vacation base pay paid out to each individual. Some companies give 50-70 percent premium vacation payout. - Christmas bonus with minimum of 15 days pay for each employee paid at end of year. -
Profit sharing payments to all employees paid on profit and agreed upon percent and amounts. - Housing benefits accruing to employees. - Funded retirement plans. - Social Security coverage for all employees.
- Severance pay outs equal to several weeks/months of gross pay, depending on seniority for individuals who are laid off by company. - Breakfast and/or coffee breaks - minimum 2 per day. - Overtime is paid
double for the first 9 hours of overtime worked within the same week. It is paid triple for any hours beyond that time within the same week. Other benefits which most companies provide for workers that are not
government mandated include: - Saving funds; co-matching portion of 6-10 percent of employees gross pay. - Company provided work clothes, safety equipment, (shoes, earplugs, safety glasses, gloves, etc). -
Transportation expenses paid out to individuals at either a fixed amount per trip or direct transportation payments to transportation carriers for commuting expenses.
- Sick leave, several days with pay depending on contract with Union. - Maternity leave, childbirth, and marriage stipends and or company paid days off (1-5 days depending on company). - Fixed dollar amount of
life insurance proceeds with premiums paid by employer for each employee. - Employee scholarships/English classes company provided - Weekly food stipends/coupons. Additional gross pay compensation paid out in the
form of stipends for purchases of food/groceries. - Perfect attendance monetary bonuses paid out weekly/monthly for employees who have weekly/monthly perfect attendance. - Daily lunch meal paid by the employer at
the company provided cafeteria or a fixed lunch meal amount paid out to each employee. - Productivity bonuses paid on production/quality incentive amount over and beyond negotiated daily gross pay rate.
- Doctor /nurse company provided health care with most medications provided free of charge to employees.
Javier Ledesma, director of operations Invamex, a Division of Invacare |