Job Yes! But with Dignity! Maria Luisa Regalado Canadian Tour

Maquila Workers' Struggle in Central America

Since 2023, maquila workers in Central America have faced a wave of factory closures linked to the expansion of corporations, corporate strategy to threathen governments with massive job loss, and an unlawful way to deal with business liabilities. In early 2023 Gildan Activewear shut down its San Miguel factory, leaving more than 2700 workers unemployed, 300 of them with occupational diseases. In January 2024, the corporation was immersed in a deep internal crisis. However, the Canadian corporation has signed an agreement to acquire Hanes Brands, a USA corporation, which is also shutting down three factories in Honduras. The factory closures have been a factor preventing the Honduran parliament from approving the Tax Justice Bill, a mechanism to intervene in politics when corporations withdraw investments, creating a national unemployment crisis and a disciplinary measure for workers who resist inhuman production methods and fight for their labour and human rights.

Codemuh has been supporting hundreds of unfairly dismissed workers from Gildan Activewear, Delta Apparel, Hanes Brand, among others, in navigating the system to obtain their occupational health assessments, compensation, and settlements. For months, CODEMUH has been organizing meetings and training sessions with workers, as well as rallies and demonstrations in front of workplaces, authorities' offices, and making as much noise as possible to show the reality of workers whose labour rights have been violated by large corporations in what the workers call "pretended" factory closures.

On October 17, 2025, CODEMUH won another battle against Gildan Activewear. After months of struggle and following Maria Luisa Regalado's visit to Canada, organized by CoDev, Gildan Activewear agreed to pay compensation to the nineteen injured workers whose occupational assessment was given by the Labour Secretary after the corporation shut down its San Miguel Factory in September 2023.

Maria Luisa's Visit to BC

CoDev, along with BCGEU, FPSE, Unifor, and BCFed, organized a series of events in BC to bring CODEMUH's struggle into the realities of union members, workers, students, and the public at large. Through CoDev, BC Unions have a historic partnership in International Solidarity with CODEMUH.

- Women's History Month at Capilano University.

Maria Luisa opened the Latin American Women's History Month at Capilano University. She dialogued with students, professors and members of FPSE. Professor Luis Eduardo Espitia facilitated the conversation, and the FPSE vice-president, Jasmine Nicholfiguereido, gave the welcoming greetings and concluded the discussion.

Maria Luisa representing CoDemuh at the BCGEU Picket lines.

CoDev, in coordination with the International Solidarity Committee of BCGEU, facilitated Maria Luisa's visit to the picket lines of BC Liquor Store and Administration workers in Vancouver and Burnaby, as well as the Downtown Vancouver picket line. She encouraged workers to hang in there and stay strong, noting that the BC Public Workers Union is part of a national and international fight against violations of labour rights.

-From Honduras to Canada: Workers' Rights and International Solidarity Event.

CoDev organized a public event in which CODEMUH, Fuerza Migrante, and workers from the Amazon fulfillment center discussed occupational health and safety for workers of large corporations such as Amazon, Gildan, and BC Farms. Attendees learned that in BC and Honduras, thousands of workers work long hours—up to 12 hours without overtime pay—and meet high production goals. Temporary farm workers also face poor, unhealthy housing conditions provided by their employers.

Solidarity Event: Building cross sector solidarity!

-BC Federation of Labour Occupational Health & Safety Centre Visit.

Maria Luisa met the executive of BC Fed and Byron Cruz, a BC Fed staff member, who gave an overview of the province's OHS system and explained BC Fed's role in Union education on OHS and in the program for temporary farm workers.

Maria Luisa's participation in the CUPE National Convention in Toronto

Maria Luisa Regalado attended the CUPE National Convention in Toronto from October 5 to 10. Maria Luisa, along with international guests from Palestine, Colombia, the Philippines, and the UK, as well as CUPE members from across Canada, participated in various plenaries, sectoral meetings, and caucus discussions. During the International Guests Reception, Maria Luisa addressed the attendees, which included executives from CUPE National and its provincial divisions, members of the Canadian Labour Congress, Global Justice Fund members, and other international guests. She emphasized CODEMUH's struggle against large corporations, such as Gildan Activewear, in Honduras and Central America, as well as the Health at the Workplace bill advocated by the organization. Her compelling presentation received significant support and congratulations from the audience for CODEMUH's efforts to enhance health and safety in the Central American region.

CoDemuh at the CUPE National convention

Maria Luisa was interviewed by the CUPE National Communication Department and various Canadian media outlets. She also had the opportunity to spend time with Margarita Lopez president of Sintracuavalle in Colombia, who is also CoDev's and CUPE partner.

Maria Luisa's main takeaways were that workers in Central America and Canada face similar challenges. Since 2023, maquila workers in Central America have faced a wave of factory closures linked to the expansion of corporations, corporate strategy to threaten governments with massive job loss, and an unlawful way to deal with business liabilities.