Workers at U.S.-owned plants along the border in Mexico erupted into protests this week, citing deaths they say were the result of the coronavirus and should result in their factories being shut down.

These “maquiladoras,” as they are known, form a key part of the cross-border trade with the United States, as they churn out heating controls, car seats and assorted technology for owners and consumers to the north.

In Ciudad Juárez, which sits across from El Paso, more than 250,000 people work in such factories, the Dallas Morning News reported, and 12 of the city’s 20 fatalities were linked to the maquiladoras.

Although many laborers have been furloughed, some plants in cities such as Juárez have remained open, as companies such as Honeywell say their production lines remain vital during the pandemic, according to Reuters.

Even after the Mexican government ordered nonessential industries to suspend operations, one U.S. manufacturing association has pushed for changes to Mexico’s list of “essential” industries so more …continued .
[Source: Washington Post]