FROM THE HOUSEHOLD TO THE FACTORY:
Sex Discrimination in the Guatemalan Labor Force

Copyright January 2002 by Human Rights Watch
All Rights Reserved
Printed in the United States of America
ISBN: 1-56432-269-6
Library of Congress Control Number: 2001099333

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I. SUMMARY 

II. RECOMMENDATIONS 

To the Government of Guatemala: 
To the Executive Branch: 
To Congress: 
To the Ministry of Labor: 
To Maquila Owners and Management:
To Multinational Corporations that Use Maquilas as Contractors: 
To the Guatemalan Apparel Business Umbrella Organization, VESTEX: 
To the International Labor Organization: 
To the United States Government: 

Right to Nondiscrimination 
Disparate Impact Discrimination 
Employment Discrimination 
Right to Health 
Family Responsibilities
Right to Privacy 

Gender and Race in Guatemala 
Women in the Labor Force 
Domestic Workers 
Maquila Workers 
Maquilas and the United States 
Peace Accords 

Domestic Workers: Legal Discrimination and Daily Exploitation 
Wage and Hour Concerns 
Discrimination on Basis of Pregnancy or Family Responsibilities 
Access to Health Care 
Sexual Harassment 
Undocumented and Unprotected 
Maquila Workers: Discrimination on Basis of Reproductive Status 
U.S. Corporate Involvement 
Pregnancy Questions and Pregnancy Testing 
Post-hire Penalization of Pregnant Workers 

Lack of Due Diligence 
Ministry of Labor 
Guatemalan Institute for Social Security 
Ineffective Sanctions 
Ineffective Mechanisms 

APPENDIX A: 

APPENDIX B: 
Example of Job Application 

APPENDIX C: 
Maquilas and Affiliated U.S. Corporations and 
Their Reported Practices 

APPENDIX D: 
List of Maquilas in Guatemala and Their Responses 

APPENDIX E: 
List of U.S. Corporations and Their Responses 

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Judith Sunderland, researcher with the Women's Rights Division, wrote this report, based on research she conducted with LaShawn R. Jefferson, executive director of the Women's Rights Division. LaShawn R. Jefferson and Regan Ralph, former executive director of the Women's Rights Division; Joanne Mariner, deputy director of the Americas Division; Carol Pier, labor rights researcher for the Americas Division; Arvind Ganesan, director of the Business and Human Rights Program; and Malcolm Smart, program director of Human Rights Watch, edited the report. Wilder Taylor, legal and policy director for Human Rights Watch, and Karen Kramer, of Baker & Hosteler law firm, provided legal review. Smita Varia, associate with the Women's Rights Division, provided production assistance. Olha Harasymiv, Network of East West Women legal fellow, and Llezlie Green and Loren Jacobson, Columbia University law school students, conducted legal research on disparate impact discrimination. 

This report would not have been possible without the assistance of numerous individuals and organizations in Guatemala who provided us with invaluable information and support. In particular, we would like to thank the staff of the Association of Women in Solidarity (Asociación de Mujeres en Solidaridad - AMES), Center for Human Rights Legal Action (Centro de Acción Legal de Derechos Humanos - CALDH), Women for the Betterment of the Family (Grupo Feminino Pro-Mejoramiento de la Familia - GRUFEPROMEFAM), Support Center for Household Workers (Centro de Apoyo para Trabajadoras de Casa Particular - CENTRACAP), San Benito House (Casa San Benito), Project Conrado de la Cruz (Proyecto Conrado de la Cruz), and the Center for Studies and Support of Local Development (Centro de Estudios y Apoyo al Desarrollo Local - CEADEL). The author extends a special thank-you to Amanda Pop Bol and Ricardo Changala for their input, as well as Emanuele Tassinari for accompanying the author through the process.

We would like to express our deep gratitude to the many working women in Guatemala who shared their experiences with us.

The Women's Rights Division gratefully acknowledges the generous support of the Moriah Fund, the Ford Foundation, the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, the Kathleen Peratis Foundation, and the Sandler Family Supporting Fund .