Over the weekend, the head of the New Ideas faction, Christian Guevara, referred to the sector, stating: “Let them take the pantyhose couplers they were planning to wear. We don’t need these hunger wages.”
The head of the New Ideas bench, Christian Guevara, referred over the weekend to the textile sector as “underpants assemblers” who “pay hunger wages”, but this Monday, the Chamber of the Textile Industry (Camtex) responded with data: the sector provides permanent employment to more than 79,000 Salvadorans and is one of the leading suppliers of clothing in the United States.
Through a virtual conference, the executive director of the Chamber, Patricia de Figueroa, stated that the textile sector is the largest formal employer in El Salvador and is also one of the main axes within a large production chain which includes small and large businesses.
He argued that 60% of its workforce is made up of women and young people and is listed as the tenth country to provide clothing for the United States.
Although in 2020 its exports fell, De Figueroa says that in 2021 the recovery has been very positive, with $ 1,552,000 of exports in the first half of the year.
Textile sector is committed to sportswear
On what Deputy Guevara said, De Figueroa replied that he was surprised by the statements of the legislator because they are constantly inviting the Minister of Economy and the Secretary of Commerce and Investment to know the evolution of the sector. That is why he invited those who are not aware of how this item works to visit the production plants.
De Figueroa said, in addition to that “to the extent that investors receive good messages, we will be able to attract new investors, new contracts, companies evaluating the region,” he said.
In fact, the executive director advanced that they have received three groups of new investors who are exploring the possibilities of staying in El Salvador and who are analyzing whether to leave for Honduras or stay in El Salvador. For the sector, the goal is for them to stay in the country as this will generate more employment for Salvadorans. These companies could give the country between 2,500 and 3,000 jobs.
The statements of the head of the New Ideas faction were also given in the context of the condemnation expressed by the United States Chargé d’Affaires, Jean Manes, on the decision of the Chamber that enables presidential re-election. Manes stressed that there are companies that thought to invest in the territory, but are now re-evaluating their plans and could opt for other markets.