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According to INEGI (National Institute of Statistics, Geography and Computing) only 29 percent of the municipality’s residents work: 69 percent work for a company, 23 percent are self-employed and 3 percent are employers; the remaining 5 percent were not classified.

The greatest number of workers are employed by factories (18 percent) and construction companies (16 percent), followed by retailers (14 percent). Information about employment is limited to statistics from 2001.

Demand greater than supply

According to María Auxilio Ángeles Olalde, head of the job exchange office of the Tourism, Economic Development and International Relations Department, positions in business administration are most in demand by those seeking employment. These include jobs as managers, assistants, secretaries and cashiers. “Most of these job seekers have taken business courses; out of 10 potential employees who come to our job exchange, seven are professionals,” said Ángeles. “We have four universities in San Miguel. Around 800 students graduate every year from each one of them. Although not all of them stay in San Miguel, many do. The University of León has begun trying to place its graduates in companies in other cities.”

Ángeles said that salespeople are needed more than waiters or hotel staff, even though tourism is the leading economic activity in the city. “Employees in retail are very much needed by businesses,” said Ángeles. “These range from salespeople in department stores or supermarkets to clerks in small stores or soft drink or water delivery people.” She added that most such businesses pay only minimum wage—in Guanajuato, 49.50 pesos per day—in addition to commission. “However, people are not used to being paid on commission, even if the company offers benefits such as insurance and housing credit. Most prefer to work for foreigners in their houses because of the higher salaries they offer, even though they do not get benefits. They do not see that in the long term it would be better to have benefits. The ones who have worked as waiters prefer to continue doing so because the tips help them a lot.”

According to Ángeles, in San Miguel there are far fewer jobs available than there are employees looking for work. Only one in three job seekers finds employment. Employees who are between 18 and 35 are usually preferred by employers.

Job search assistance

The job exchange office has a variety of support programs for sanmiguelenses in search of work. “The job exchange office does not get people jobs; we are just a link between job seekers and employers,” said Ángeles. Employers send us profiles of the kinds of employees they need and based on those we select appropriate candidates.”

One job exchange program, called “Formal Job,” grants a one-time sum of 2,000 pesos so a potential employee can go to a job interview in a nearby city. “If the job seeker gives us proof of expenses, he does not have to pay the money back,” said Ángeles. “We ask recipients to fill in a form with the name of the company and the interviewer. Before granting the funds, we call the company to verify.” Other requirements include proof that the candidate has not been unemployed more than six months and that he or she stayed in the previous job at least three months.

“Formación Laboral en Práctica” (Working Training in Practice) is an internship program in which potential employees who have registered with the job exchange office but not yet found a job are sent to local companies for two or three months on a trial basis. The job exchange office awards 98 pesos per day to the workers, and the employer pays nothing. “During those two or three months, the employer would decide if the candidate is appropriate for the job without spending any money, and the job seeker would have the opportunity to train and maybe to get a job and earn a small wage,” said Ángeles.

Tough to make ends meet

According to Ángeles, most monthly salaries in San Miguel range from 2,000 to 12,000 pesos a month.

For Tania, a single mother who works for the local government, life in San Miguel is very expensive and wages are inadequate. “I spend about 2,400 pesos a month on food and the basic necessities for my child and me,” she said. “This does not include water, gas and electric bills, which are about 700 pesos a month. This would be half of an average salary in San Miguel. If we include rent, which is at least 2,500 to 5,000 pesos a month, the salary runs out completely. There is no chance to save.”

For Rodrigo, a waiter, the minimum salary needed by a family with two children would be 1,000 pesos per week. “However, waiting tables is one of the better jobs in the city because of the tips. In my case, the tips help me a lot,” he said.

Juan, a professional who works for a factory, said that he has not received a salary increase in five years. “However, prices have increased a lot in five years. Five years ago, I paid 3,000 pesos a month to rent my house; currently, I pay 4,000 pesos. In other words, my money does not go as far as it did five years ago,” he said.

Crackdown on tax evasion
By Gabriela Blanco and Suzanne Ludekens

Municipal authorities closed the city’s first luxury rental home due to lack of appropriate documentation on April 28. The closure marks the start of a city crackdown on unregistered accommodations which compete unfairly with legally registered, tax-paying businesses and constitute substantial levels of tax evasion.

Although rental properties are the first target, all unregistered businesses will in time be required to comply with recently approved municipal regulations for use of land.

According to Ernesto Saavedra Cardoso, coordinator of Enlace y Gestión in the urban development department, property owners will have to confirm the land use of their properties with city authorities. This requirement is based on an amendment to the municipal Reglamento de Zonificación (Zoning Regulation) which was officially published in February this year.

During 2004-2005, the city conducted a campaign inviting such businesses to register or face fines.

According to Saavedra, the manager of the unregistered luxury rental property, advertised online as a “Dream Castle” for US$10,000 per week, was issued an order of inspection on March 26. However, by April 28 the “bed and breakfast” had not provided official documentation and the premises were closed.

Saavedra said that his department has a list of over 70 illegal bed and breakfasts, guest houses, hotels and rental properties.

Identified properties will be issued an inspection order and a notice of hearing, which grants the right of audience. After the audience, the property owner is given three days to present the specified documentation.

The permit for regularization of land use costs approximately one thousand pesos.

Owners who do not comply with the registration process face closure and fines that range from 26,000 pesos to over one million pesos.

Required documents 

The documents required to register property for accommodation purposes are: 

Land titles duly registered with the land registry office (Registro Público de Propiedad)

Business registration with the tax department (Acta Constitutiva en Secretaría de Hacienda y Crédito Público)

Copy of land tax payment (predial)

Copy of the original architectural plans

Security approval from the civil protection department (Departamento de Protección Civil)

All documents are to be presented at the office of Ernesto Saavadra at Desarrollo Urbano (urban development department), Presidencia (City Hall) on the Salida a Querétaro. Office hours are Monday–Friday, 8:30am–4pm; tel: 120-4183, 120-4585, ext. 182 and 183.

Earth Day in San Miguel

In celebration of International Earth Day sanmiguelenses rolled up their sleeves to clean up local parks and gardens. While hundreds of sanmiguelenses headed to the Charco del Ingenio botanical gardens for the annual clean-up, Mayor Jesus Correa planted trees in Parque Clouthier and later visited a photographic exhibit in Parque Juarez.

City Ecology department announced reforestation plans with an investment of 2 million 500 thousand pesos. More than 15,000 plants, trees and bushes will cover an area of 18,000 m2.

Earth day activities ended with an intentional blackout in the Historical Center to save energy. 

High temps call for caution
By Jesús Ibarra

According to Ramiro Arroyo, assistant manager of the Civil Protection Department, this April was the hottest in 12 years in San Miguel. On April 21, the temperature reached 36°C (97°F).

Civil Protection makes the following recommendations to combat the heat:

-Civil Protection requested that gas companies not fill home propane tanks to more than 80 percent of their capacity. “Normally, the tanks are filled to 85 percent of capacity, but in the heat the valves could expand and cause leaks,” said Arroyo, who added that so far no propane leaks have been reported.

-Wildfires are another consequence of the heat. Civil Protection added that in May temperatures could reach 40°C (104°F). Be cautious when burning trash and keep hoses close by.

-Civil Protection is also working along with the fire department and the health center at La Lejona to prevent heat-related health problems. It is advised that residents seek medical advice at the health center in La Lejona at the first signs of heat stroke and diarrhea, use a hat as much as possible and stay hydrated.

Mexico Round-up

Here is our weekly compilation of recent developments across Mexico, an overview of lead stories from last week’s national newspapers.


The stand off in Congress is ridiculous, says Calderón

According to El Universal, President Calderon has stated that the image of the PRD is being destroyed by the striking members of the party in the Congress. After several days of invitations for a dialogue, Calderón has hardened his position and begun criticizing the PRD for continuing the strikes in the Congress. During a press conference with President Bush and Prime Minister Harper of Canada, Calderon talked about the current situation in the Mexican Congress as a result of the PEMEX reform initiative. Calderon assured that the blockade of the Congress is only discrediting the reputation of the PRD party and putting party members in a ridiculous situation.

Calderon’s staff alleged to have stolen cell phones during the meetings with President Bush

La Jornada reported that the main office of the Mexican Presidency has confirmed that Rafael Quintero Curiel was caught on video camera taking cell phones during the Trilateral Summit of Northern American Leaders between the Mexican President Felipe Calderon, US President George W. Bush and the Canadian Prime Minister, Stephen Harper.

The videotapes allegedly showed Quintero taking six or seven cell phones from the table that was outside the hall where the Mexican Delegation was meeting with Bush. It is common practice, in situations such as these, that all participants who enter the conference leave their cell phones or electronic devices (such as Blackberries, etc) outside of the meeting.

When the meeting finished, the American participants discovered their cell phones were missing. Secret Service agents (SS) reviewed the videotaped surveillance from the time of the conference and observed Quintero leaving the scene with the stolen cell phones. Quintero left for the airport before the SS agents could apprehend him.

Quintero denied taking the cell phones, even after the Secret Service confirmed the alleged events with their surveillance tapes. Quintero was subdirector of logistical coordination for the Mexican Presidency. Quintero started working in Los Pinos at the beginning of 2007 and received a monthly net pay of 31,042 pesos. He has been fired.

“I’m innocent,” pleads Quintero

El Universal has reported that Rafael Quintero Curiel, former member of Calderon's staff, has demanded that US authorities clarify the situation, in which they had implicated him in the robbery of two cell phones. Quintero sent an official notice to US authorities confirming his version of the facts. Quintero reported that he found two, not seven, cell phones on the table and he took them in an effort to return them to their owners. When the conference suddenly ended, he was transferred to the airport with Calderon and in the rush of subsequent events, forgot about the phones. He verified this version of the facts by confirming that he passed the phones on to the hotel taxi driver in order to return the phones to their owners.

Quintero informed the Secret Service that when the two phones were sent back to the hotel with the driver, the agent convoy was already en route to the airport to arrest him. The Secret Service agents did not detain him and let him return to Mexico with no charges filed. Quintero has asked that the Secret Service send official notice of the alleged robbery to the Mexican government to exonerate him.

Regional Round-up
Compiled by Atención staff

Dangerous gas stolen—Mexican Army can’t find it

According to El Correo, an industrial gas tank full of chlorine was stolen from the El Mezquital Well in the Sistema Municipal de Agua Potable y Alcantarillado (Municipal Water System). The municipal president of Salamanca and the Mexican Army were awakened by the director of Protección Civil (Civil Protection) of Salamanca, Luis Gutiérrez Ceja. He said that chlorine gas causes throat, eye and skin irritation, respiratory problems, asphyxia and can cause death. In case of a leak, a cloud appears and wind dispersal can affect people on the periphery. Chlorine gas can produce an explosion when it comes in contact with other materials such as ammonia or turpentine. Chemical mixes also can be detonated by high temperatures; the resulting explosions can be fatal.

At dawn on Sunday, the cyclone fence that protects the El Mezquital Well of the Salamanca municipal water system was destroyed and the 64-kilo tank of gas used to chlorinate the water was removed. Searches began that same day of nearby uncultivated land, junkyards and scrapyards which buy iron and scrap iron. Cars also were dispatched to alert the community to the danger and the potential damages.

Gutierrez Ceja indicated that the tank is valued at 13,000 pesos. It is an industrial cylinder, silver in color, with contents identified on the side.


Dam water to come to San Miguel

El Sol del Bajio reported that the secretary of the Comisión Estatal of Agua, CEAG (State Water Commission), Angelica Castillas Martinez, announced that the state government has contemplated an integral project this year that would use dam reservoirs to supply urban zone water needs to allow aquifers more time to recover.

Castillas said that the projects will be constructed in Rio Verde, Realista and Vaqueros. These dams will supply water to more than a million people in León. The Realista dam will also provide San Miguel and Celaya water needs. The Vaqueros project will supply San Luis de La Paz.


Celeya dump catches fire

According to El Sol del Bajio, a fire in the municipal dump burned thousands of tons of garbage in Celaya. More than 60 firemen, civil defense workers and volunteers battled the fire for several hours with 20 hoses, four trucks and heavy machinery. Smoke extended over the entire zone, affecting nearby towns. The fire was reported to the Guardia Municipal (Municipal Security) around 9:30pm.


Footwear makers complain of Chinese products
According to El Correo, Guanajuato footwear makers asked the federal government to keep charging tariffs on Chinese imports. The leaders of the shoemaker market demanded that lawmakers take action against cheap contraband and fake shoes from China which compete unfairly with León’s shoes. On April 24, the leading national footwear fair started in León with 850 producers from Guanajuato, Jalisco and the state of Mexico. This year the fair expects 13,000 visitors from all over the world. Heriberto Felix recommended that all participants create web “stores” to offer their products. Mexican shoes would thus be on sale around the world and could compete in China and other markets.