Living Wage Rights

The idea of a “living wage” suggests that a person working a normal work week (about 40-50 hours) should earn enough money to meet the basic needs of shelter, food, medical care and entertainment with just enough left over to save for vacation, extraordinary and/or emergency expenses. The idea of a living wage is different from the minimum wage which is a standard set in the U.S. by federal law for the work hour and which often does not meet the basic needs of typical workers.  Maquiladora workers hired in Mexico often struggle to secure a living wage from their employers, often American companies that fled the U.S. to avoid paying union (living) wages.  The typical complaint about wages and work hours heard from maquiladora workers is that they work long and hard (50-75 hours pers week) for so little in return (about 50-75 dollars per week) and that the wages only meet the bare necessities, leaving such essentials as school supplies and quality fresh meat and vegetables in the category of luxury items.  

WOB, 2001