The word "maquiladoras" is Spanish for "factories and/or sweatshops". The factories first started in 1965 as an ad hoc experiment at secluded sites on the U.S.-Mexico border which expanded quickly into quite a sophisticated federal program intended to attract export investments. In the early eighties, major economic problems seeped into Mexico causing an ensuing need for overseas investment. To improve Mexico’s economic problem it would have to develop through the success from the maquiladoras, and from its success, it immediately attracted the Mexican government. In the modern world, the use of maquiladoras are Mexico's primary source of domestic production, exports, and employment, and continues to attract foreign investment from the United States, Canada, Europe, and Japan. The main purpose is to imports raw materials, parts or sections into Mexico for manufacturing, processing and assembly needs. The finished or semi-finished products are then exported out of Mexico, or to various …show more content…
So let it be known that the unemployment rate is much lower along the border than it is anywhere else in Mexico. Fifty percent of all exports come from Mexico from the Maquiladoras. Also, maquiladoras have helped build a series of network of successful businessmen who are skilled in managing multi-national companies. There have also been political improvements in regards to maquiladoras, such as American ideas along the border have increased business and social contact in turn the American ideals on Mexico has strengthened due to maquiladoras. According to Chasteen, “without the maquiladoras, millions of workers face unemployment or long-term underemployment”. Even though working for maquiladoras can cause stress, sickness, separation-anxiety, and even death, but it beats living and raising a family on the