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U.S. government urged to toughen protections for women in temporary work programs

Reuters reported, an advocacy group for Mexican women who complain of such abuse said on Thursday, the U.S. government should take stronger action to fight discrimination and sexual harrassment in temporary work programs for migrants.
The Center for Migrant Rights, although the U.S. and Mexican governments have held meetings to address a petition filed on the matter last year, the efforts did not go far enough.
Executive director Rachel Michah-Jones told reporters at the unveiling of a report sent to Mexican authorities: "A year has passed with lots of talk but little action."
Thursday's report describes certain agricultural jobs that appear to exclude women and highlights accusations of sexual harassment they face at work.
One of the women, Daria Hernandez, said: "Throughout my 13 years working in this industry, I have seen many situations where women suffer."

She added that in her work at a Maryland crab processing plant, she often saw a male supervisor touch and harass women before threatening to report them or send them to Mexico if they complained.
Last year's petition urged Mexico to pursue remedies with U.S. authorities under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), which has stricter labor provisions than the trade pact it replaced in 2020.
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The U.S. Department of Labor and Mexico's Labor Ministry did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
U.S. and Mexican authorities have previously vowed to protect the rights of migrant workers.
Micah-Jones added, Mexico's government could request further investigation by a dispute resolution panel set up under the USMCA.
One of those who signed last year's petition was Adareli Ponce, who has worked at U.S. chocolate and crawfish businesses under a temporary program.
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She said she had never heard back about a farming job she applied for last year, although she later saw men hired for the same position and similar work.
She said in the center's latest report, adding that many farm job ads call exclusively for men: "I have not seen a single woman afforded the same opportunity."
Source: reuters
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BENEFIT Sponsors BuildHer...
- April 23, 2025
BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”
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