The clothing assembly industry, or maquila in Spanish, has become a pillar of the local economy in El Salvador.
One of the leading companies in the sector is Hermosa Manufacturing which imports U.S. textiles to assemble sportswear and accessories and then sends the finished products back to the United States. Its client list includes such brands as Nike, Adidas and Puma.
"We started this business 16 years ago at the height of the civil war with 20 employees and it was a risk. But we've prospered. We now have a staff of 600 and are able to turn out around 12,000 items a day," says General Manager Salvador Montalvo.
"Without the maquila factories, El Salvador would be much poorer," Mr. Montalvo argues. "Ninety-nine percent of our employees are women, most of whom have no schooling, and are the chief breadwinners for their families. We pay the legal wage, with opportunities for overtime and bonuses and so many people live better than before."
