Free Trade Treaties. Invasion of foreign capital through transnational enterprises that destroy the local economy and rise unemployment levels. The profits of the transnational enterprises do not stay in the country.

 

Dollarisation of the economy. This strengthens the dependence of the economy of El Salvador on the United States. International organisations impose their requirements and this prevents the government from applying employment policies.

 

Collapse of the agricultural and livestock sector, particularly of small-scale agriculture, which entails the loss of food sovereignty and security. For instance, while European consumers pay 3,60 € per pound of coffee, farmers in El Salvador earn as little as 0,24 €.

 

Proliferation of the maquila, which promotes unfair labour conditions: very low salaries, excessively long working days, reduction of the labour and union rights of workers.

 

Privatisation of basic services such as electricity, telephony and water. This increases their cost and most of the population cannot have access to them.