Worker Conditions

Finca El Faro provides to all its employees all the basic necessities enforced by local law and international obligations. In addition, we strive to guarantee every employee of Finca El Faro a better condition of life. All wages and benefits for both regular and seasonal workers meet the minimum required by the Ministry of Labor and Social Prevision of Guatemala.

In many cases, wages and benefits exceed the minimum imposed. Benefits to which all employees are entitled to include:

• At least the minimum wage established by the Ministry of Labor of Guatemala.
• Two bonuses; each equivalent to his or her monthly salary, payable on June and December accordingly.
• Yearly vacation with pay. Each employee is entitled to fifteen days of paid vacation every year.
• Every employee who has served for more than three months in a row at Finca El Faro is entitled to receive health care from the Instituto Guatemalteco del Seguro Social (IGSS). IGSS is a governmental agency that provides health care to workers and their respective families from funding derived from both the employers and the employees. Employers provide IGSS with 10.67% of the entire payroll while employees provide 4.83% of their own salary. Healthcare includes: Accidents, common sickness and maternity care.
• Every employee receives free education for their children. Education for children of employees of Finca El Faro is funded entirely by the employers.
• In addition every employee is entitled to be compensated with his or her cumulative yearly wage at the moment the employer wishes to discontinue his or her contract. This serves as an insurance policy, given the case that he or she is fired with no fault of his or her own.
• If an employee happens to be compensated by the employer; he or she is also entitled to 30% of the value compensated. This 30% falls under the concept of Economic Advantages, which also compensates employees for what they will no longer be receiving once their contract has been terminated by the employer.
• All employees of Finca El Faro have access to a health clinic on the premises of the estate. The clinic is the heart of the human resource, and it is responsible of providing employees and their respective families with care for minor afflictions, first aid, counseling and health maintenance. The clinic is supervised by a private entity denominated Agro Salud. The primordial function of the clinic is prevention. Finca El Faro requires all employees and their respective families to undergo a physical check up periodically. In addition, health seminars take place regularly in order to educate, counsel and supervise.
• If employees were to require specialized medical services, Finca el Faro transports the patient to the nearest hospital, and in addition absorbs all the inquired costs.
• Workers and their families, including seasonal workers, are provided with access to potable water, electricity, sanitary facilities, adequate housing, education and training, religion, transportation, loans (with no interest), health services, entertainment, telephone, convenience store, job training programs and alphabetization.

Working conditions meet and exceed applicable laws and regulations related to the health and safety of workers. Training sessions take place once a week to ensure that workers are up-to-date with procedures that guarantee their safety while handling machinery and products which may put their health at risk.