Placement: Zona Franca “ Free Zone” aka. Sweat Shop,
Housing Free Trade Companies such as Gap, Dockers, Walmart etc.
Location: In nearly EVERY community throughout the Dominican Republic
On Wednesday March 16th our bus drove into the compound of Zona Franca, a “industrial park” 1 of 100s found throughout the country.
I sat on the edge of my seat, listening to Frances explain the operations – peering out the windows at the many buildings.
Buildings that once housed thousands of workers, working for a “promised” wage of $5000 pesos a week [135 US], enduring long, hot days piecing together our clothing, our footwear, our swimsuits, our furniture….our luxuries.
They now house hundreds of workers, working for a “promised” wage of $5000 pesos a week.
Why?
Because many companies have moved operations to Haiti, where it has become easier to exploit the people, cut the costs and produce mass materials.
Those workers still employed in the DR can be making anywhere from $1000-5000 pesos a week [27-135 US]. Their wage is based on production.
They work approximately 8 hours a day, 500 people to a building working as fast as possible- because their life depends on it.
Frances explains that because these factories are found on the outskirts of town, workers must pay for transportation to and from work, they must purchase lunch before returning home their respective homes in the evening.
Because of their ridiculously low wage many workers are taking out a loan on Monday morning – so that they can work all week to repay that loan on Friday- turning around and asking for that money back on Monday to get back to work.
What kind of life is this?
Zona Franca companies do NOT employ children.
But these do…
A furniture factory in a poor barrio called Los Teres Brazos.
Desiree a volunteer from North Carolina, USA; gave us a tour of the barrio she is currently working in. This particular barrio is one of the 3 poorest in the country, it is the newest and fastest growing and has no government regulation or assistance.
Which makes it much easier for production companies to ignore labour laws.
This particular furniture factory [specializing in beds and dressers] is notorious for employing children, they work in dangerous situations with little to no protection and IF/WHEN they get hurt they are sent to get “patched up” and are fired for their inconvenience.
I am not telling you this information so that you feel guilty.
I am telling you this information so that you can make an INFORMED decision next time you purchase a new clothing item, or a piece of furniture.
Does it matter to you how it was made? DEMAND FAIR WAGES and SAFE CONDITIONS
What lives were strained? PUT A FACE TO YOUR PURCHASE
What is the price of YOUR luxury?
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