Employmentweb_low

EmploymEnT, woRk, and hEalTh inEqualiTiEs - a global perspective
other informal sectors, including selling goods in the markets and
on the streets and family farming, and not protected by the law.
many of these children do not go to school; although the
constitution mandates education, it is not enforced. furthermore,
since public education, transportation and other expenses are not
completely covered by the government, it would be impossible for
some families to send their children to school, even if they wanted
to send them.
It is easy to hire and fire workers because El salvador's labour
code allows a worker to be fired due to the employers' "loss of
confidence" in him or her (Código de Trabajo, república de El
salvador: article 50). Workers can also be fired for such reasons as
presenting false certificates, repeated negligence, revealing
confidential information, grave acts of immorality, disrespectful
behaviour toward the employer or employer's family members, and
absence without permission. In cases of unjustified firing, the
employer is required to pay one month’s salary per year worked.
reasons deemed "unjustified" include salary reduction, deception
about the conditions of employment, mistreatment of workers or
family members, and worker endangerment (article 53).
There are currently 129 active unions. of these, 42 are industrywide,
35 are company specific, 32 are professional unions, and 20
are unions of independent workers (asociación de servicios de
promoción laboral, 2004). However, there are cases of violations of
the right to organise, especially in the maquila sector. The El
salvador labour Code itself is an obstacle to fair labour practices:
article 627 caps fines for violation of the Code at only $57.14.
unemployment insurance does not exist in El salvador. In cases
of death on the job, dependents are entitled to 60 days of the
worker's basic salary. In cases of incapacity due to work, the
employer is obligated to pay 75 per cent of the worker's salary
during the first 60 days, with social security paying the remaining 25
per cent. The employer continues to pay 40 per cent of the salary up
to a maximum of 52 weeks. If the worker is injured due to work and
incapacitated indefinitely, the employer is obligated to pay the
equivalent of 60 per cent of the worker's salary for life.
Employers are obligated by law to pay social security for
workers. The employer and worker each pay a percentage based on
the salary of the worker. social security insurance covers 75 per
cent of a worker's salary when absent due to illness for up to three
months, including a three-month maternity leave; the employer
pays the remaining 25 per cent. for the 80 per cent of the population
without formal jobs, medical coverage is provided by the ministry of
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