Impact of participation in non-traditional export production on the employment, income, and quality of life of women in Guatemala, Honduras and Costa Rica

This study analyzes NTAE"s impact on women in Guatemala, Honduras, and Costa Rica through its effect on employment, income, and quality of life. The first part describes the women and men who work in NTAE production, including their civil status, age, education, number of children, etc. The second part addresses how women experience the impact of NTAE in their lives. A major finding is that NTAE generates employment options for women and in most cases assures them of a government-established minimum daily wage, if not better. About two-thirds of women working in NTAE said their only other employment option was in domestic services. Women occupy more than half of the jobs associated with the processing, or post-harvest handling, of NTAE products. Female labor is preferred due to personal qualities associated with women, such as careful handling and close and constant attention, which are needed to perform these tasks well. Despite these gains, however, chances for advancement to supervisory positions are almost non-existent. The skills women master are usually not transferable except to another similar job, and even then they rarely translate into a wage benefit. Implications for action are identified.