Globalization Maquiladoras and Their Negative Impact free essay sample

Globalization: Maquiladoras and Their Negative Impact upon the Environment and Women in Mexico As firms increased commerce by expanding their business into markets located in different countries, numerous trade barriers and international restrictions have been progressively disabled. This cross-border trading has changed the once historically distinct and separate national markets into a global marketplace. Now the economies of countries throughout the world have become interpedently linked. This process of global integration is called globalization. However, the impact of globalization expands further than economic transformation and unification. In the Hispanic country of Mexico, globalization has given rise to maquiladoras. The American Heritage ® Dictionary of the English Language defines maquiladoras as, â€Å"an assembly plant in Mexico, especially one along the border between the United States and Mexico, to which foreign materials and parts are shipped and from which the finished product is returned to the original market†. The emergence of maquiladoras in Mexico has exposed the country to environmental pollution and a tolerance for the mistreatment of female maquiladora employees. According to Thomas L. Friedman, the author of The World is Flat: A Brief History of the Twenty-First Century, the current state of globalization has occurred due to three crucial three eras. The first era is classified as â€Å"Globalization 1. 0†. It began with the emergence of trade between â€Å"the Old World and the New World† marked by Columbus’ exploration in 1492 and lasted until 1800 (Friedman 9). During this period, countries sought to define themselves by the level of manpower and ingenuity they possessed, and how skilled they were at utilizing their resources. The motivating force of globalization among countries was to secure their place in global commerce by finding ways to work with others. This era was significant because countries changed from being self-contained to more cooperative and willing to trade with other countries. The second era is â€Å"Globalization 2. 0† which took place from 1800 to 2000 (Friedman 10). This period was led by multinational companies searching for new markets and sources of labor. Their drive for commerce laid the foundation for a global economy. The products and information these multinational companies transported across continents inspired the creation of technological advancements. Friedman states that tools such as the steam engine, railroad, telegraph, telephone, personal computer, satellite, fiber-optic cable, and the World Wide Web fueled globalization by reducing transportation and telecommunication costs. The third era is â€Å"Globalization 3. † which began in 2000 and is continuing into the present (Friedman 10). This period has enabled individuals with the skills and tools essential for global communication and global commerce. Before this period only countries and companies had the capabilities needed to operate globally. As globalization spread throughout the world, maquiladoras began to emerge in Mexico during the 1960’s (Gruben 11). Acc ording to William C. Gruben, the author of â€Å"Was NAFTA Behind Mexico’s High Maquiladora Growth†, the expansion of maquiladoras in Mexico can be attributed to the North American Free Trade Agreement. The North American Free Trade Agreement, otherwise known as NAFTA, is an agreement between the United States, Canada, and Mexico which eliminated tariffs that were barriers to trade. NAFTA was established on January 1, 1994. The following two years marked a significant growth in the number of maquiladoras. In 1994, there were 2,200 Maquiladora plants with 550,000 workers. Then in 1996 maquiladoras grew to over 3,000 plants employing over 800,000 workers (Cooney, 55). The majority of maquiladoras are located along the U. S. Mexico border in the cities of Ciudad Juarez, Tijuana, El Paso, and Chihuahua. Population levels in urban areas have risen significantly due the promise of higher paying jobs and a better quality of life where maquiladoras are located (Gruben 11). The documentary, Maquila: A Tale of Two Mexicos, showcased the migration of people hired by maquiladoras that came from poverty stricken areas, such as Guerro, Chiapas, and Veracruz. These workers left their homes with th e hope of earning a higher income to provide a better life for themselves and their families. However, these workers soon found out the only things available for them were low wages, dangerous work conditions, environmental hazards, and no protection from their government. In the documentary all employees complained of severely low wages, but the most significant complaints were from the female Maquiladora workers and the residents who lived near the maquiladoras. The female workers complained of being verbally and physically abused by their male supervisors while the residents complained of companies dumping toxic waste into local living areas. The concerns addressed by these people are not limited to the confines of this documentary. Countless urban residents in Mexico fear for their environmental safety and women fear for their well-being. Compared to the United States, environmental laws in Mexico are not enforced with the same level of significance; this is particularly true for multinational companies. Since the establishment of NAFTA, it would appear as though the Mexican government has allowed multinational companies to be irresponsible in regards to labor and environmental laws. Even companies from the United States have not maintained the same level of environmental standards in Mexico as they would be expected to do so in America. Companies have acted negligently by not providing basic safety equipment, such as â€Å"gloves and masks, or installing ventilation systems† (Cooney 62). In addition, they have not taken the proper measures to install air pollution control devices or oversee the disposal of waste, and use cheap methods of production which has caused the production of more unsafe waste and pollution. The Paso del Norte is located along the U. S. -Mexico border and is contains of the cities Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua, and El Paso, Texas. This area has received poor air quality standards, and the cities of Ciudad Juarez and El Paso are known as having the worst â€Å"levels of ozone, carbon monoxide, and particulate matter less than 10 microns in diameter† (Blackman 6). A vast amount of scientific evidence has shown that the levels of air pollution similar to these cities cause respiratory disease, cardiovascular disease, and under prolong exposure can shorten one’s life expectancy. Moreover, the air pollution causes damage to the environment. The type of environmental damage that occurs under these conditions involves undrinkable water, acid rain, and malnourished agriculture (Blackman 7). All of these are caused by maquiladoras not taking the initiative to dispose of toxic waste properly (Cooney 70). The people who live near the factories suffer from these health problems due to the environmental waste and toxic gas exposed by these factories. Women are the primary workforce in maquiladoras. Women are typically in their twenties and most are single daughters attempting to help their families generate additional income. While they are employed in maquiladoras, it is common for random pregnancy tests to be administered. If the women are tested positive, most are fired immediately. It has even been documented pregnant women have been given pills that induce miscarriages under the camouflage of vitamins. It is also common for women to be confined to their workstations until their break time or end of shift without being allowed to receive a drink of water or use the bathroom (Cooney 72). Globalization has contributed toward the strengthening of economies in many countries throughout the world. It has integrated countries and created a global marketplace where almost every country in some way, shape, or form are interdependent. Mexico benefited from globalization by having multinational companies invest in maquiladora production. This expansion of firms has created jobs, raised Mexico’s economy, and positioned Mexico as one of the most popular countries in the world to outsource labor. However, do to the earned benefits from globalization outweigh the negative impacts globalization has imposed upon the environment and women maquiladora workers? The Mexican government and NAFTA have not maintained regulations that prohibit the exploitation of the Mexican environmental and maquiladora employees. The maquiladora plants have not maintained the same level standards of environmental protection or employee rights in Mexico as they would be expected to do in their home countries.