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.
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.
In Honduras, the union of maquiladoras reported that in June 2018 jobs in the sector totaled 151,667, 4% more than those reported in December 2017.
During the first half of the year, the Honduran Maquila Association (AHM) recorded an increase of 6,072 jobs, rising from 145,595 at the end of 2017 to 151,667 at June 2018.
The 8% increase in minimum wages in this sector will be effective from 1 January 2014.
"We are pleased that the people who are working in the maquila sector will receive in the month of January the respective increase, which will be eight percent and which has been agreed with the labor unions," said Daniel Facussé, president of the Association Maquila Companies of Honduras.
The closure of another maquila center, due to low orders in the world market, means 500 people will be made unemployed.
Oscar Galeano, representing the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Cortes (CCIC), lamented the closure of this maquila company in the previous week, due to the low level of purchase orders from abroad, reported Proceso Digital.
Two new textile plants will begin operations this year in Nicaragua after closing operations in Honduras.
Once operating, these two plants will generate 2.000 new jobs in the Nicaraguan textile sector, as they aim to double their current capacity in Honduras.
While in Nicaragua the opening of these plants is cause for celebration, there are mixed feelings in Honduras.
The cost of labor is critical for textile companies which migrate from Honduras to El Salvador and Nicaragua, where wages are lower.
Daniel Facussé, president of the Honduran Manufacturers Association (AHM), states that 16 textile companies have moved their operations from Honduras to Nicaragua and El Salvador since the end of 2008.
For the Businessman, the main reason is the difference in wages between Honduras and its neighbors.
The recovery of 18 thousand jobs and a 28% exports increase represents the balance for this year.
Textile entrepreneurs project a similar behavior for next year.
Latribuna.hn reports comments from the president of the Textile Association, Daniel Facussé, "The numbers are encouraging: to date exports are about 28 percent more than last year on products exported and about 20 percent more in dollar value".
In the first six months of the year, the Honduran textile industry has recovered 11.000 of the 30.000 jobs it lost since early 2008.
Daniel Facussé, president of the Honduran Maquila Association, explained that some 250.000 square meters were left unused after several companies closed operations. He remarked that the industry has already recovered 30%.
Textile company Modtex International will start operating in the Free Zone of Port Cortés soon.
In the short term, the company expects to create 400 jobs.
"Other companies already operating at this industrial park include apparel companies Garmax and Land Apparel, chemical and fertilizer producer Fenorsa, and corn derivatives manufacturer Graneles", reported Laprensa.hn.
Industry spokespersons report 4.000 jobs recovered in the last few months.
The industry currently employs 110.000 people, said Gullermo Matamoros, representative of the Honduran Maquila Association.
According to Matamoros, "... some symptoms indicate that the U.S. economy's 'free fall' has stopped, a positive sign for increasing exports to this country", reported Tiempo.hn.
The government and maquiladores are negotiating a rescue plan with the IDB to save some 50,000 jobs.
The program estimates that $4.5 million would soften the effects of the economic crisis, as was expressed by Guillermo Matamoros, director of the Honduran Association of Maquiladores (AHM).
Iván Vásquez gathers the statements of the director of AHM for Elheraldo.hn: "This is a contribution by the IDB (Inter American Development Bank) which will avoid job losses....We expect that with these resources some 50,000 workers will not have to be added to the dismissal list as the main effects of the financial crisis are happening."
The American Company will begin activities next week in Zip Choloma Park.
The company is engaged in weaving and making socks and underwear. Its general manager for Honduras, Jorge Pitsikalis, stressed that this is the first plant they have opened outside the US and that it has hired 230 people.
Laprensahn.com published the manager’s statements: “They decided to settle in Honduras because they believe in the workforce and also because of the proximity to the United States. The conversation was begun by investors in 2007, when there were few US companies in Honduras and they saw the maquiladora zone and Honduran workers."