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1 FINAL REPORT OF LABOR AUDIT, IN FACTORY CHI FUNG. S. A. DE C.V. PROFESSIONAL TEAM 1. JUAN JOSE ZALDAÑA LINARES ATTORNEY AND NOTARY LEADER TEAM 2. MANUEL ALFREDO CORLETO AREVALO AUDITOR 3. ROSA HAYDEE DELGADO BUSINESS ADMINISTRATOR 4. ANA LINDA MICHELLE DE PORTILLO ATTORNEY 5. STEFANNIE LUCRECIA CHACON - PSYCHOLOGIST 6. WALTER ALBERTO ZALDAÑA CIVIL ENGINEER AUDIT PERIOD FEBRUARY 26 TO MARCH 18, 2010

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  • 1

    FINAL REPORT OF LABOR AUDIT, IN FACTORY CHI FUNG. S. A. DE C.V.

    PROFESSIONAL TEAM

    1. JUAN JOSE ZALDAÑA LINARES – ATTORNEY AND NOTARY

    LEADER TEAM

    2. MANUEL ALFREDO CORLETO AREVALO – AUDITOR

    3. ROSA HAYDEE DELGADO – BUSINESS ADMINISTRATOR

    4. ANA LINDA MICHELLE DE PORTILLO – ATTORNEY

    5. STEFANNIE LUCRECIA CHACON - PSYCHOLOGIST

    6. WALTER ALBERTO ZALDAÑA – CIVIL ENGINEER

    AUDIT PERIOD

    FEBRUARY 26 TO MARCH 18, 2010

  • 2

    CONTENTS

    INTRODUCTION

    RESEARCH DESIGN

    o INTEGRATION OF TEAM

    o DESIGN METHODOLOGY AND TOOLS OF RESEARCH.

    o PROGRAMMING FACTORY TOUR

    RESULTS OF RESEARCH

    o ANALYSIS OF INCOME AND OTHER RECORDS LABOR ISSUES

    o ANALYSIS OF CONDITIONS OF SAFETY AND INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE

    o ANALISYSIS OF INTERVIEW

    CONCLUSIONS

    o GENERAL CONCLUSIONS

    o SPECIFIC CONCLUSIONS

    RECOMMENDATIONS

    o TO THE STATE OF EL SALVADOR

    o TO THE MINISTRY OF LABOR AND WELFARE

    o TO EMPLOYERS OF THE INDUSTRY MAQUILA

    o TO THE PRESTIGE BRANDS INTERNATIONAL

    ANNEXES

  • 3

    COMPANY DATA

    Name: CHIFUNG, S.A. DE C.V.

    Tax identification number (NIT): 0514-290592-102-0

    Social Security number (ISSS): 701921273

    Adress: Km. 12.5 Carretera Troncal del Norte.

    City: Apopa.

    Deparment: San Salvador.

    Country: El Salvador.

    Phone: 22140-9000

    Telefax: 2214-6056

    Company adress: Km. 12.5 Carretera Troncal del Norte.

    Activity Economic: Textil Industry (in accordance with payroll of

    AFP) and Maquila (in accordance with payroll

    of ISSS).

  • 4

    INTRODUCTION

    Every company, at certain moments of its existence, will be affected by some kind of

    crisis. In those circumstances will be strengthened which is able to overcome it, the

    rest will perish or be extremely difficult to survive.

    In times of financial and economic crisis, businesses, particularly its owners and

    managers must demonstrate their ability to overcome the difficult situation, of course

    this means using lots of creativity and based on respect for human rights of workers

    and labor legislation.

    Latin American companies often are forced to develop their operations face many

    hardships, some of them derived from economic decisions taken by successive

    governments, which are bad adaptations of the experiences of other countries

    wrongly applied to the environments of each country.

    Being in crisis is a state that companies must be willing to take. Trying to survive the

    crisis and find out what to do, is a forced decision to not affect the next time the

    same way.

    RESEARCH DESIGN

    o INTEGRATION TEAM

    The research team Chi Fung, joined as follows:

    - Two lawyers (including the Team Leader)

    - An Auditor

    - A Business Administrator

    - A Civil Engineer

    - A Psychologist

    Each in his specialty suggested strategies to follow to obtain information that would be

    discussed later, which led us to perform actions, including review of payroll and

    production records and physical observation of the production facilities the factory.

  • 5

    o DESIGN OF METHODOLOGIES AND RESEARCH TOOLS

    The Auditor and Business Administrator limited their research to verify the wage records

    and inquire some unusual aspects considered in the process of payment and discounts

    that they make to workers. Details of the administrative investigation are attached to this

    report

    Civil Engineer conducted an inspection of the plant in order to investigate aspects of

    industrial hygiene and safety. The result of his work is also added in this report.

    Lawyers and Psychologist concentrated their efforts on interviews with 80 workers and

    former workers of the factory, 30 of them outside the premises. Everything related to the

    results of the interviews are discussed in the conclusions.

    o SCHEDULING VISITS

    Factory visits were constant for some members of the team from 26th February to 12th

    March 2010. After this date, the team worked in the city of Santa Ana, analyzing and

    integrating information in this report. The Head of the team made some visits to the

    factory to investigate some aspects with the management of it.

    A final visit to the factory, took place on Wednesday March 17 date on which they

    released a preliminary report of the audit.

    RESULTS OF RESEARCH

    o PRELIMINARY COMMENTS

    The factory management provided all the requested documentation, but on the second

    day of investigation, the factory manager said to the team leader that any activity that

    involved tour the factory premises in all areas, had to be accompanied by some person

    executive staff member of the factory, therefore it meant that would not be allowed free

    movement of the research team

    Importantly, the executives did not like the fact cards provide the team leader to the

    workers. Moreover, the interviews only could be conducted only during periods of

    recess, for that reason the first day we interviewed the first group in the dining room,

    which gave conditions to supervisors and managers to stay nearby, using the pretext of

    ensure order

    The following interviews were conducted in a room of the factory managers provided for

    the team was installed to work. Other interviews were conducted outside the factory

    premises in two nearby malls.

  • 6

    o ANALYSIS OF INCOME AND OTHER RECORDS LABOR ISSUES

    A. Consideration of evidence: the view were taken for analysis of pre

    production schedules developed and pay slips, signed by employees as

    payment of their salaries, in addition, personnel records, payroll and AFP

    ISSS (pension fund managers), and reports of marking entrances and

    exits of personnel.

    B. Period: The wage schedules examined, correspond to the period 2006 to

    2010 the production area.

    C. Minimum wage: All workers of different production units of the department

    assigned to them, both in the pre made templates as pay slips, the

    minimum wage, according to the following table:

    Period Current minimum wage (daily)

    January 2006 =August 2006 5.04

    September 2006 = Julio 2007 5.24

    July 2007 = June 2008 5.40

    June 2008 = December 2008 5.57

    January 2009 = February 2010 5.79

    D) Determination of value per hour in relation to the minimum wage:

  • 7

    ANALYSIS OF WAGES

    SALARY ANALYSIS OF PRODUCTION WORKERS (Expressed in U.S. $)

    VALUE VALUE SALARY

    No. NOMINAL VALUE HOURS SALARY PER HOUR

    DAILY HOURS

    VALUE

    PER SALARY FOR ORD. X REAL EXTRA

    YEAR MONTH SALARY DAILY

    HOUR

    WAGE 14 DAYS WEEK WEEK

    PER

    HOUR DAYTIME NIGTHTIME

    2006

    Jan.-

    Ago. $5.04 8 $0.63000 $70.56 $35.28 44 $0.8018 $1.26 $1.575

    2006

    Sep.-

    Dec. $5.24 8 $0.65500 $73.36 $36.68 44 $0.8336 $1.31 $1.640

    2007

    Jan.-

    nov. $5.24 8 $0.65500 $73.36 $36.68 44 $0.8336 $1.31 $1.640

    2007

    Nov.-

    Dec. $5.40 8 $0.67500 $75.60 $37.80 44 $0.8590 $1.35 $1.690

    2008

    Jan.-

    Jun. $5.40 8 $0.67500 $75.60 $37.80 44 $0.8590 $1.35 $1.690

    2008

    Jun.-

    Dec. $5.57 8 $0.69600 $77.98 $38.99 44 $0.8861 $1.39 $1.740

    2009

    Jan.-

    Dec. $5.79 8 $0.72375 $81.06 $40.53 44 $0.9211 $1.45 $1.810

    2010

    Ene.-

    Feb. $5.79 8 $0.72375 $81.06 $40.53 44 $0.9211 $1.45 $1.810

    Notes: All the production staff earn the same salary

    The calculation does not include legal benefits like end year bonuses, vacation, allowances,

    bonuses and others benefits.

    E) Review of personnel records: We performed tests of the production

    personnel records, and verified compliance with legal and formal

    requirements of the recruitment. Within these records are the following

    documents:

  • 8

    PERSONNEL FILE (sample)

    General Tab of Human Resources division

    Employment contract.

    Employment Application

    Date monitoring of compensation

    Sheet commitments (work by choice)

    Sheet update personal data

    Solvency of the National Civil Police

    Compensation constancy

    Waiver sheet at the conclusion of a year of work to justify the compensation (official

    paper of the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare).

    Sheet prior work record and recommendation.

    Record of the employee medical consultation

    Proof of medical consultation for their children.

    Proof of absence on grounds of involvement in the school for their children.

    Proof of Disability ISSS.

    Written reprimand for missing work without permission

    Record to appear as a juror

    Summary NIKE code of conduct, signed by the worker

    General policies of the company, signed by the worker.

    Note: The personnel records contain relevant information worker

    F) Wage verification: crosses were made prior information between forms and

    payment vouchers, no differences were found between vouchers

    The pay slips are printed signatures of the workers. We determined a pay slip

    unsigned for a worker, during the period of January 29, 2009 to February 11,

    2009.

  • 9

    The payroll processing system, payment vouchers and report marking

    entrances and exits of personnel, are effected by magnetic means, are

    attached to illustrate the tables numbers: 1, 9, 10, 11, 12 Y13

    G) Assist Control: The entrance and Outs of staff, are held on magnetic media,

    by sliding the card to the employee by the device, generating the report for

    processing payroll and other personnel actions.

    H) Discounts: We examined the labor quotas provided by the workers to the

    regime of ISSS and AFP, and checked the calculations regarding payrolls.

    it was verified the payment to ISSS and AFP, noting that during the period

    under review have been paid within these forms correctly, see Table No. 5

    In the analysis of the forms of salary we determined under "Other deductions"

    and by its importance, we made more thorough examination, was conducted to

    verify the contents. We found in some cases lack of compliance with the legal

    rules relating to deductions from wages.

    The following are three examples of payment discount tickets:

    i) slips from January 29, 2009 to February 11, 2009

    Worker Name: Worker 1

    Income $ 81.06

    Discounts 81.05

    Value received 0.01

    Details of discounts:

    ISSS 2.43

    AFP 5.07

    Agricultural Bank Loan 22.64

    Metropolitan Credit Loan Fund 14.13

    The Know Bookstore 17.56

    Medicine 4.59

    Medicine 4.63

    Savings Plan 10.00

  • 10

    Pay Ballot February 12, 2009 to February 25, 2009

    Worker Name: Worker 1

    Income 81.06

    Discounts 81.05

    Value received 0.01

    Details of discounts:

    ISSS 2.43

    AFP 5.07

    Agricultural Bank Loan 22.64

    Metropolitan Credit Loan Fund 14.13

    The Know Bookstore 12.98

    Medicine 13.80

    Savings Plan 10.00

    Pay Ballot February 12, 2009 to February 25, 2009

    Worker Name: Worker 2

    Income 74.55

    Discounts 73.88

    Value received 0.67

    Details of discounts:

    ISSS 2.23

    AFP 4.66

    Workers Bank Loan 19.31

    Loan Savings Plan 13.59

    Loan Savings Plan 11.55

    Savings Plan Loan 2.50

    The Know Bookstore 15.04

    Savings Plan 5.00

    More details of discounts, in frames numbers: 4, 14, 15 and 16

    The slips were cases of discounts and other working tools such as:

    Payslip of January 29, 2009 to February 11, 2009:

    Worker 3: A measuring tape.

    Worker 4: A card.

  • 11

    I) Staff turnover: Staff turnover is illustrated in Table No. 2.

    REVIEW OF SEVERANCE, BONUS, VACATION, PAYMENT ISSS, AFP, overtime and other

    employee benefits.

    A) Consideration of proof: We checked sheets bonuses, vacation allowances, ISSS, AFP,

    salary and wage slips.

    B) Period: 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, January and February 2010.

    C) Bonus: The bonuses are paid on separate sheets of any fee and are signed directly by

    the worker.

    Calculations were reviewed and checked some cases taking into account their age and

    legal payment date, there were no inconsistencies.

    D) Holidays and compensation: The policy established by the company is to compensate

    staff, at the end of each year working on their date of admission, while recognizing the

    annual leave. We checked the calculations and applications in the dates.

    See tables numbers: 3, 17 and 18.

    E) Payment of payroll of the ISSS an AFP: He is considered the employer contribution

    ISSS, INSAFORP and AFP. The payments were made in the relevant period. Workers

    are not discovered these benefits.

    F) Overtime: We passed information between markings reports entrances and exits, the

    payroll wage and salary receipts, there were no errors of calculation and application.

    Importantly, as described by some workers interviewed, they often have been laboring

    after normal working hours and checking out one or two hours of 5 pm, but those extra

    hours are not reflected in the report, consequently they are not paid. They argue that

    remain after normal working hours, to "advance work"

    Regarding overtime that reflected in the payroll and vouchers, there is a supporting

    document signed by the worker, where they establishing the number of overtime worked

    and the voluntary for do it.

    To illustrate the tables are numbers: 6, 7 and 8 show the summary of overtime day and

    night, and the number of personnel assigned by the department.

    G) They argue that remain after normal working hours, to "carry out their work"

    Regarding overtime reflected in the vouchers, there are supporting document signed by

    the employee, which establishes the number of overtime worked and voluntarism

  • 12

    expressed.

    For illustration shows the tables numbers: 6, 7 and 8 show the summary of overtime day

    and night, and the number of personnel assigned by the department.

    H) Other benefits:

    i) Savings system: The company coordinates a system of savings, cooperative type (not

    legalized) in which workers contribute biweekly contributions to the pool. Of these

    funds are low rate loans made to those workers participating in the system, with an

    interest rate of 10% per year, these loans are discounted to the payroll of salary,

    contributions to term.

    ii) According to the company manager, at the end of each year the savings are reimbursed

    to employees.

    iii) Food: There is no direct subsidy to the power of workers during the working day but the

    people who provide food to workers, the company provides local, free water and

    electricity, in order to the value of food more affordable.

    iv) Business Clinic: There is within the premises of the company, a corporate clinic provides

    first aid services.

    v) Medicines: There are agreements between the company and pharmacies to provide

    medicine to workers; These medicines are paid by the employee contributions to

    term and are discounted in return.

    vi) School Supplies: There are agreements between the company and library, to provide

    school supplies for children of workers. The value will pay the employee for

    contributions to term and are discounted in return.

    vii) Bonus: There are subsidies in small amounts, awarded for meeting certain goals or

    others.

    VERIFICATION OF WORKERS IN THE PRODUCTION LINE OF THE COMPANY.

    Production lines: The Company currently has twelve production lines in the engine department.

    The production lines are not a constant number, because these are assigned according to the

    styles and processes of each model made.

    The line ranges vary between 30 and 50 workers, but sometimes they are small cells.

    Departments or units of production: The production is organized in several departments, as

    illustrated by the table number 7.

    SAMPLING PRODUCTION GOALS, CALCULATION AND APPLICATION

    A) Consideration of proof: We tested several styles of replica NFL regarding time allocated by

    machine / man, and the corresponding production goals, as well as variance

  • 13

    Reports produced PARTEX units.

    B) Period: We analyzed the years 2006, 2007 and 2008, because according to the statement by

    the manager, the company produces PARTEX since May 2008.

    C) Production Goals: The goals of production is calculated based on the "RATE", ie the

    measurement of time of each style is produced. This time study, the goal is determined daily

    operation, see Tables Nos. 19, 20 and 21.

    We analyzed three styles replica NFL and calculated values of direct labor (only the department

    of machinery), as shown in the table numbers: 22, 23 and 24.

    D) Efficiency Goals: The goals of efficiency could not be verified, because these are deleted

    from the system and do not keep records.

    E) produced NFL PARTEX Replies: We analyzed the production of replicas NFL in terms of

    units entered, produced and exported, as well as production periods according to box number:

    25

    F) Application of payment: The wage system adopted by the company is "a day" would require

    further examination to determine the unit cost for each of the styles produced.

    ASSESSMENT AND VERIFICATION OF RECORDS OF WAGES FOR THE THIRD AND

    FOURTH QUARTER OF 2009.

    A) Verification of records: We examined payroll records for the relevant period to 02 of July

    2009, until December 30, 2009, the summary of the period are presented in Table

    numbers: 6 and 7

    B) Evaluation: The records are in order, and its calculation and application, the important

    thing to note is the amount of overtime work during the period. Monitor box number 6.

    GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS ON THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE COMPANY.

    Administrative records reviewed in this review and for the period under study, such as payroll of

    wages, employment benefits, attendance controls, personnel records, labor contracts and

    others, are in proper order, and the administration gave them all facilities for review.

  • 14

    MAJOR FINDINGS:

    The most significant findings identified during the audit conducted at the company

    administrative Chi Fung, S. A. C. V., in the period 2006 = 2010, can be summarized in

    the following aspects:

    A) Overtime: Regarding overtime, we find a serious contradiction between the

    statements made by some workers and the system of clock´s marking that the company

    has, since when they are working to "Advancing the Production", these hours are not

    reflected in the marking report that provides the basis for payroll the overtime.

    But having reviewed the documents and found no irregularities, we have some

    comments that raise doubts that the system of payment of overtime is efficient,

    according to the following versions:

    i. Version of the Workers: The interviewees stated that they are

    laboring after regular working hours "work ahead for the next day"

    and / or to meet the production target required by the company,

    marking the exit after completing the overtime. Workers, mark only

    one time their departure, which means that these extra hours of

    work performed should appear in the report of overtime, which does

    not happen.

    ii. Company´s Manager Version: The manager of the company,

    indicates they do the selection of the people they need to work

    overtime, those workers sign a document which they express

    willingness to do so. The staff that is authorized to work overtime,

    check off his exit at the end of overtime. Expresses also, that they

    will pay overtime only for staff that they are selected and that the

    overtime is approved using a process that enables to the time´s

    clock software, to recognize the overtime to staff who have been

    authorized to it. In the case of a staff who is working to catch up on

    work and / or achieve production targets, they are not allowed to

    collect overtime because they do not stay as requested by the

    company but on their own initiative.

    Inconsistencies.

    • Employees who are authorized to work overtime have a report

    from those hours and of course we could verify the payment in the

    payroll of salary and payment vouchers. This does not happen with

  • 15

    the workers that "advance work" or are working to achieve

    production targets.

    • The regular departure time is at 5 pm. Monday to Thursday and

    on Friday it works until 4 pm, but when somebody works overtime,

    the report show the entrance simultaneously at 5 pm. The exit of

    overtime varies from one employee to another.

    iii. version of the owner. The time clock is programmed, using

    software so that all staff checks their entry at 7 am and leaving at 5

    pm. or 4 pm, the ordinary working day, depending on the day.

    Inconsistencies

    • Reports of markings indicate that the clock isn´t programmed for a

    specific period of time, because personal entries appear before 7

    am and after 8 pm. Clearly the clock programming can be altered

    according with the convenience of the company.

    General Conclusion

    The control system and payment of overtime is controlled by the

    company, so that software can be programmed so that through a

    process, some workers are paid overtime and not others.

    B) Discounts on worksheets: not respected legal discount rates in payroll, going beyond the

    20% and in some cases to workers, is deducted up to 99.9% of their salary. Table no. 15

    presents one case of discounts, in which the worker (a): Jessica Beatriz Chamul, received a

    penny (0.01), for thirteen (13) catorcenas of 2009, and received wages for all By 2009, the

    numbers of: 04/100 twenty-three Three hundred dollars (323.04).

  • 16

    Also, the analysis of the relationship of discounts on revenue in the second half of 2009, shows

    high overall percentages, according to this table

    Year 2009 Total Total Relation

    Period Salaries deductions Disc. / wages

    02-07/15-07 47,891.28 11,930.72 24%

    16/07/29-07 52,217.57 9,692.40 18%

    30-07/29-07 46,445.78 11,249.48 24%

    13-08/26-08 51,648.41 11,818.62 22%

    27-08/09-09 47,161.43 10,953.79 23%

    10-09/23-09 49,970.59 11,940.48 23%

    24-09/07-10 47,375.68 10,906.77 23%

    08-10/21-10 52,493.88 12,023.34 22%

    22-10/04-11 50,850.85 12,900.17 22%

    19-11/02-12 58,149.61 9,375.40 16%

    03-12/16-12 62,178.49 7,571.74 12%

    17-12/30-12 57,911.00 3,895.72 6%

    C) Savings System: There is no government watchdog agency assigned to oversee the savings

    plan.

    D) Output PARTEX: According to records provided by the company, production PARTEX NFL

    replica, completed in the month of May 2008.

    E) Unit Production Cost: To determine the unit production cost of the replicas NFL requires a

    more extensive review that includes the unit cost of each department involved in the process

    and other indirect costs, but the data daily goal has been to approximate a value of unit cost of

    direct labor department machines, ranging between $ 0.31 and $0.33 (U.S. cents) per piece.

    Also on "28 workers who produce 2.300 t-shirts a day" is distorted, in studies of time and setting

    daily goals, that to produce a replica "PATRIOTS" it takes 43 machine / man per day, to

    produce an estimated average 500 to 600 pieces per day.

  • 17

    ANALYSIS OF CONDITIONS OF SAFETY AND INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE

    PHOTO DOCUMENTATION

    In a visit to the factory premises CHIFUNG SA DE CV, is located in the Municipality of

    Apopa, Department of San Salvador on Monday 1th March, two thousand ten, from ten

    hours and fifteen minutes in the morning, photographic information was collected.

    The photographs show an alarming lack of industrial safety in the production plant of the

    Chi Fung factory, which affects health and increases risks.

    On the way, on a wall located near the entrance to the human resources office, found a

    statement by ADIDAS GROUP aimed at workers which reads as follows:

    In analyzing the content of these paragraphs, we conclude that the staff of factory

    management FUNG CHI has omitted the previous regulatory compliance. Below is the

    “You may remember seeing on the walls of this factory, posters explaining the basic rules of work safety an occupational health and environmental protection to be followed by factories….These panels have been removed because we expect our, partners protect your rights with trade policies and measures…”

    “…we hope that the management of the factory complies with all laws and regulations and to offer fair treatment to employees and value their contribution to the factory and our company…it will help management to further improvements in its workplace and offer the necessary training to perform their work safely.

  • 18

    photographic detail of electrical hazards, which can be sources of heating cables,

    electric arcs, sparks, etc.

    The picture shows that there is training new staff, and the lack of protection for

    the connectors that are less than 1 foot from their heads.

    Connector in poor condition.

  • 19

    In the following photos we can look the lack of maintenance within the factory,

    and how the workers do not realize the risk they are manipulating the wires and

    in some cases they make the repair the wires..

    plugs into disrepair

  • 20

  • 21

    The picture shows some exposed wires and placed in a haphazard manner. The

    workers dispose all the connectors for do not interfere in their working place, not

    realizing that can cause an accident.

  • 22

    In both pictures we see that the connector wires are fastened with cords of fabric,

    this can cause a fire.

  • 23

    Electrical connectors near water containers, which represents a serious risk.

    \

  • 24

    It must protect the cables that are exposed above the high voltage board.

    Bad wiring

  • 25

    Using homemade equipment, they can produce heat by overuse.

    There are several bottles of water near the connectors, the connectors also are not

    adequate and are in poor condition.

  • 26

    The workers ignored the preventive placards, we can look that only one worker

    uses the mask, in an area where you need to use it.

    During the tour, all fan were not working and the interior was too hot.

  • 27

    Wires in poor condition.

  • 28

    Lack of protection in electrical box on wall .

    Flooring in poor condition, which can cause accidents.

  • 29

    This ignition switch is located in the men's room, if someone plays with wet hands

    this box without protection can cause electrical shock.

    Apparently some smoke detectors are not working but could not be verified it

    because employees don´t know about it.

  • 30

    Many of the connectors that are around the lamps are damaged, and the workers

    take the cables tying them with strings of cloth, taking the risk of fire or cause it to

    break a lamp by the disorderly way in which are located electrical cables.

  • 31

    INTERVIEW ANALYSIS

    Most of the interviewers in the factory told us that they are afraid of loose their jobs if

    they talk about the situation that is why they asked us to protect their identity, also they

    required help in case they get fire.

    CONCLUSIONS

    When the investigation process was finished in Chi Fung, the result was many general

    and specific conclusions which are related to key points of the workers’ complains.

    o GENERAL CONCLUSIONS

    According with the workers who were interviewed, the factory Chi Fung has

    violated many Labor Rights such as: The right to meaningful work; to safe and

    healthful conditions of work; to pay sufficient to endure a life of human dignity for

    a worker and his or her family; to form and join labor organizations; and to

    participate in the workplace decisions affecting their lives.

    It was established that these workers are not provided them with adequate

    technical assistance.

    The Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare do not play an active role when the

    right of the workers is being violated by their employer, either on other similar

    cases in El Salvador. It is important to mention that the Ministry of Labour and

    Social Welfare does not apply the labor laws and the international labor

    agreements ratified by El Salvador.

    The case of the Maquila Chi Fung exposes the violation of labor rights, as well as

    the fragility of the economic model in the maquilas is looking for a solution to

    unemployment.

    The different Public Institutions have played a passive role at the time the

    workers have been trying to defend their workplace human rights by delaying the

    suits filed against the factory Chi Fung.

    The maquiladora industry in El Salvador has been violating the right of the

    employees by denying their right of association. Moreover, the right to organize is

  • 32

    establishes in the Labor Code those Corporations are treating works all over the

    country, the employees believe that if they attempts to create a Union they could

    get fired. However, there is some kind of corruption among some Labor Union in

    El Salvador.

    Solidarity trade union but has been reflected in various ways both nationally and

    internationally, has not been enough for the government of El Salvador publicly

    acknowledge their responsibility for human rights violations that occur Labour

    inside the maquilas, or shows signs of adjustment to its policy of creating jobs.

    All this makes clear that in El Salvador, labor laws allow them to deliberately

    violate labor rights.

    o SPECIFICS CONCLUSION

    1) FORCED WORK. NO PAY OVERTIME:

    80% of workers stated that in overtime, including from 5:00 to 7:00 pm, they were

    forced to work in order to meet production goals. That the two daily overtime

    were not paid. 70% of workers (s) interviewed said they were not paid overtime

    even though the forms appear.

    The research team checked the records of overtime and found that the time clock

    inputs and outputs of the working days, reports it the overtime worked by staff

    that is authorized by the company. The time clock is linked to software that is

    administered by the Human Resources Department; they introduce the

    information about the personal that will work overtime, so the clock´s report

    reflects those hours. It is a reality that people who work additional hours without

    the approval of Human Resources, don´t receive salary and there are no reports

    of these hours, simply because the clock does not recognize it.

    Despite the risk involved, there are workers who are willing to testify under oath

    before national and international legal bodies, which have long been forced to

    work overtime without pay.

    2) INCENTIVES:

    Worker (s), (100% of respondents) declared that they were not given incentives

    to meet the goals (production bonus).

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    3) HARASSMENT AND ABUSE BY SUPERVISORY STAFF

    100% of those interviewed said that the staff of supervisors harassed and

    humiliated, subjected to outrageous treatment. With an emphasis on those who

    practice the leadership of this group. The same percentage mentioned above,

    states that the person who serves as Chief of supervisors is designated as the

    one that tramples on the dignity of workers. The workers claim that the chief of

    supervisors forced them work overtime, which are not paid and with this

    requirement is intended to force them to meet production goals.

    100% said the factory owners do not harass or use the sound system to treat

    them badly. Those executives do not attract attention as disrespectful and rarely

    talk to them.

    4) VACATION AND HOLYDAYS:

    60% of workers (is) said they were forced to replace the vacation time. Whether

    working overtime prior to or after the holiday period. They say that the same is

    required in the days of rest established by law (mandatory). This could not be

    confirmed in documents of the employer, such as time records, payroll and

    production records before and after holiday periods and major holiday such as

    Easter and Christmas in August.

    5) RESTROOMS:

    70% of respondents stated that the bathrooms of the factory are usually dirty and

    in poor operating conditions. The research team confirmed this during a tour of

    the factory and documented with photographs.

    80% said they would only give them a roll of toilet paper a week, which is

    insufficient for their physiological needs.

    100% said that in the bathrooms there is no soap, only water.

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    Extremely dirty inside women´s restrooms

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    Extremely dirty inside women´s restrooms

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    Extremely dirty inside men´s restrooms

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    Dangerous box electrical inside the restrooms

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    Dirty floor, all the time

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    6) SURVEILLANCE CAMERAS:

    80% confirmed the existence of security cameras on the premises, including the

    entrances to the bathrooms.

    7) INFLUENCE IN THE INTERVIEWS:

    60% of respondents in the meeting room, said human resources personnel are

    instructed to say in advance about the interview.

    8) INTERVIEW WITH SUPERVISION STAFF:

    Three supervisors were interviewed, including the head of that group. It is striking

    that said they had been able to achieve higher production, but have never

    received training in other important aspects like labor rights, human rights,

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    human relations. They believe that to work, vacation and severance pay, an

    incentive for workers and require them to recognize that production workers and

    constantly threaten that they will lose their jobs. Supervisors have expressed that

    as production targets and receive overtime pay to achieve them

    9) DON´T EXIST SALARY PROTECTION:

    It was confirmed that disrespects the maximum percentage reduction in salary

    allowed by law, which is 20%. Management said the Ministry of Labour has not

    made any comments.

    10) SAVINGS PLAN:

    With a savings plan, attract funds without authorization, or own regulatory.

    Management stated that the Ministry of Labor has not expressed any opposition.

    11) FORMS OF LABOUR RECRUITMENT:

    100% of workers are employed for a definite term (annual), yet their activities are

    of a permanent nature. The General Manager stated that they don´t have labor

    liabilities, they compensated annually to the workers, in addition the Ministry of

    Labor’s inspectors never have objected to this form and they said them that if

    they change contracts indefinitely, can´t compensated annually to the workers.

    In addition, 100% of respondents said that when they was hired first time, the

    managers told they about the company's policies, but they didn´t know the code

    of conduct of the brands for which Chi Fung produce and their records have

    many of these documents that were signed, but they have done to keep their

    jobs.

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    12) SAFETY INDUSTRIAL:

    By physical inspection of the plant facilities, it was found that there are serious

    violations of safety and industrial hygiene, which are illustrated with photographs

    and comments from them.

    RECOMENDATIONS.

    o GENERALS RECOMENDATIONS:

    Recommendations for the Government of El Salvador

    1- All maquila industry set in Salvadoran territory has to create an economic

    fund, which will be sufficient to guarantee the employees’ benefices,

    established at Article 447 of the Code of Commerce.

    2- To verify compliance with the Law Primary, Secondary and International in

    relation to compliance with labor rights.

    3- The Government has to create a special commission to monitor

    compliance and implementation of ILO conventions ratified by El Salvador.

    Recommendations for Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare

    a. The Ministry has to fulfill with the task of guaranteeing the defense of

    workplace human rights.

    b. The Ministry has to take an active and leading role in the defense of

    workplace human rights through objective inspections to verify working

    conditions.

    c. The Ministry has to establish mechanisms for direct communication with

    workers, in order to guarantee the opportunity to be heard.

    d. The Ministry should develop ongoing training processes certified by

    international bodies that ensure respect for workplace human rights,

    aimed at employers and employer representatives, workers and union

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    representatives, on rules and procedures that help to improve the work

    culture, avoiding discrimination reasons of organization and free

    association.

    e. The Ministry must ensure that employers, employer representatives,

    workers and workers representing unions, are accredited by specialized

    agencies on workplace Human Rights.

    f. The inspections of the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare must be

    reliable and really sources of objective information and the results must be

    knowledge for the population.

    g. The Ministry must not allow any negotiation between employer and worker

    who goes against the inherent rights.

    It is recommended that employers in the maquila in El Salvador:

    1) The Corporations must comply with treaties and ILO conventions and national

    legislation relating to compliance and enforcement of labor rights.

    2) The Corporations must improve the infrastructure of the premises where the

    activity occurs maquila (walls, sanitation, ventilation, lighting, drinking water, and

    others).

    3) Encouraging workers in the maquila with a special bonus duly authenticated and

    documented by the productivity they have.

    4) Corporations must contribute to projects that improve the quality of life / as

    workers in the maquila industry.

    5) Corporations must create within the company a social projection area to develop

    projects that benefit the working community.

    Recommendations for Transnational Companies

    1) International Companies should require that the maquiladoras, contractors

    and subcontractors, compliance with national and international legal

    framework on workplace human rights.

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    2) International Companies should ensure that all the maquiladora who have

    signed contracts, they are solvents with payments of social benefits for their

    workers.

    3) International Companies should sing contracts only with maquiladoras which

    have no history of violation of workplace human rights.

    4) International Companies should establish along with the Fair Labor

    Association, a permanent representation of an Ombudsman to monitor

    compliance with the workplace Human Rights to check on all contractors and

    subcontractors.

    SPECIFICS RECOMENDATIONS:

    Before we comment on:

    Remediation or Repair Capacity.

    The motivation to perform a job can come from several sources:

    • One of the most common is the need to comply with a order. Usually it is a order

    whose violation implies a punishment, a bad grade, a disqualification, a bad

    evaluation. In these cases, the motivation to work is powered by a persecutory

    mental state.

    • A method that generates a commitment to link to short, medium and long term and,

    therefore, disposed to creativity, is what comes of remediation or repair. This method

    produces peace, for having known and having a difficult situation resolved. Is a

    provision that comes from experience, with the advantage of creating the feeling of

    having provided a service, committed and responsible for responding to the

    company, employees, contractors, subcontractors, suppliers or others.

    One of the factors of greatest relevance to the work undertaken since the restorative

    approach is the kind of commitment is created by our commitments and with the

    beneficiaries of such commitments.

    In other words, people with attitude restorative are more willing than others to make

    sacrifices to achieve the overall objectives, will indulge in the feeling of being useful

    to the construction of a project that goes beyond their own interests, using the

    values Group in making decisions of their own work and are in a constant search for

    opportunities, solutions and alternatives that are functional to the group and the

    company.

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    Related to the findings, the following is recommended:

    FORCED WORK. OVERTIME NOT PAYED.

    Should not be allowed the practices extra work without it being paid. The work done by

    staff using overtime hours must be paid, without looking for the excuse that some

    workers work without the request of the company. The practice of canceling overtime

    only to authorized workers, permits the exclusion of those who are forced to work

    overtime to meet production targets

    INCENTIVES:

    The salaries must be paid, according with the Salvadorian law and the practice of the

    international big brands.

    HARASSMENT AND ABUSE BY SUPERVISORY STAFF

    Staff should be trained in monitoring Human Rights Labor, Human Relations, technical

    humanistic of oversight and all those others that could improve employee performance

    without jeopardizing their rights.

    VACATIONES AND HOLYDAYS:

    Should not restrict the enjoyment of the right to leave and holidays established by law

    RESTROOMS:

    The surveillance cameras should be removed from places near to the restrooms and

    should not be used as a pressure offensive to dignity of the worker.

    INFLUENCE IN THE INTERVIEWS:

    The Directors of the factory or their managers should not try to influence the responses

    of the workers to pressuring them before the interviews, trying to influence the results of

    audits.

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    DO NOT EXIST SALARY PROTECTION:

    A primary obligation of employers is to protect workers' wages and is not justified in any

    way the illegal practice of discounts over the percentage allowed by law. Accordingly,

    such discounts should not continue.

    SAVING PLAN:

    Although the factory administration says that participation in the savings plan is

    voluntary, it does not have any legal basis. Therefore must be obtained legalization.

    FORMS OF LABOUR RECRUITMENT:

    The activities performed by workers are permanent, so it is not correct and should not

    continue to practice to set up in the contracts that are for a definite term (annual), even

    with the adjective "renewable. The practice of annual compensation does not justify this.

    SAFETY INDUSTRIAL:

    Must be overcome all the recommendations about safety industrial, identified and

    signaled in this report.