Textile Sector Needs More Job Flexibility

Because there is still no regulation for part-time employment in Guatemala, textile businessmen estimate that the country loses between 40 and 70 thousand jobs.

Tuesday, May 14, 2019

For representatives of the Costume and Textile Commission (Vestex), the high operating and labor costs in Guatemala cause businessmen to send cut pieces to Honduras, El Salvador and Nicaragua to be assembled.

Alejandro Ceballos, president of Vestex, explained to Prensalibre.com that "... Guatemala can take advantage in exports, because U.S. buyers will look to the region and especially to Guatemala to do business. Although the outlook is encouraging for this sector, not all of the positive impact on the country is staying, because between 40 and 70 thousand jobs are not being filled for lack of labor flexibility.

Ceballos added that "... With the current working conditions in Guatemala it is not possible to create jobs, therefore, the application of part-time is becoming increasingly necessary because neighboring countries are taking advantage of this advantage.

See "Guatemala Approves Part-Time Employment" and "Guatemala and the Part Time Employment Law".

The part-time employment situation in the country has been debated for years, because after multiple announcements and attempts to advance the issue being discussed in Congress, the law is still not a reality. However, with the resumption of the discussion of the issue this year, its implementation could be finalized in 2019.

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