76% of women in Mexico's textile sector work in informal conditions, report finds

A significant majority of women in Mexico's textile industry face precarious working conditions, with a new study revealing that 76% are employed informally. This contrasts sharply with the 53% of men in the sector who experience similar informal employment.

The "Hilando el cambio" (Spinning Change) report, funded by the European Union and produced by organizations including Oxfam Mexico and Ethos Innovación en Políticas Públicas, further highlights that 77% of female textile workers lack access to social security benefits. The study points to a "cycle of precarization" where women encounter multiple barriers that hinder their job stability and professional development.

Brando Fisher of Ethos Innovación en Políticas Públicas described the work in maquiladoras, or assembly plants, as "intensive" and physically demanding, often without access to future social security. The report also details widespread gender-based violence, including harassment and discrimination related to pregnancy, affecting women in the industry.

Adding to the burden, female textile workers dedicate an average of 52 hours per week to domestic and caregiving duties, significantly more than the 36 hours men spend on similar tasks. Mercedes Ramírez of the feminist association ProDesc stated that these are not isolated incidents but part of a "productive model that continues to transfer the costs of competitiveness to the workers." She emphasized the need to transform structural conditions that perpetuate precarity, discrimination, and violence.

Lorenza Moreno, a maquila worker with 23 years of experience, shared her personal struggle, recounting how her company refused to recognize a work-related accident as such, leading to a lengthy and exhausting process. She expressed that many female textile workers "prefer" not to speak out about their experiences, highlighting the pervasive fear and power imbalance within the industry.