The challenge to be a woman and a day worker in San Quinnt, Baja California

A large part of the agricultural industry is supported in San Quinet, Baja California, by a huge machine where women are gears. Behind all strawberries, cucumber or tomato box, there are also caregivers.

Of the 50,000 active days in the region, workers themselves estimate that they represent more than 40 % of the workforce.

An example of this is Magdalena, even a few months ago, I worked to collect tomatoes; Run 22 buckets per day. He had three months pregnant when he was launched. It is a reflection of an industry in which a woman is an obstacle.

“I feel bad because I want to work, and I want to continue working with my children,” says Magdalina, who cares about one of the clothes that she used to cover the intense sun.

Anna also witnesses that motherhood is seen as an obstacle in the fields of agriculture, indicating that some companies decide to reduce the employment relationship with those of up to 6 months of pregnancy. She is the mother of two girls from 9 and 12 years old, referring to all the challenges facing the fulfillment of these two tasks; From waking up at 3:30 am to prepare lunch to allocate 50 % of his salary to pay a nanny who takes care of his daughters.

For example, Esther has worked as a day of day since the age of nine. At the age of 17, he was carrying himself and strawberry brushes up to 6 months, when he had two threats to miscarriage. He is now responsible for one of the custody of the self -managed in San Qentin. It admits that leaving the field was not easy. The nursery has been stolen at least four times last year until now: the last time that the only garbage boats have been taken.

Better residence for children and more security: demand demands

As daytime workers and careers, their demands are that the Baja California government gives them funding to improve their children’s residency and improve the issue of security. His daily struggle is that great agricultural farm owners respect the periods of pregnancy and breastfeeding. So far, none of her requests have been heard.

Esther and his companions are in the process of forming a union for today’s workers. For them, the scratch of hope is for decades of tenderness and automatic.