El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele has described the country’s prison system as “the best in the world,” following the release of a video showcasing the work of 48,000 inmates, not affiliated with gangs, who participate in the government’s social reintegration programs.
The footage, originally published by Osiris Luna, Director General of Penitentiary Centers, presents the extensive range of productive and rehabilitation activities inmates engage in—contributing directly to the country’s economy, education system, and public services. “We will continue working to solve problems that seemed impossible, even though some, inside and outside our country, try to stop us. God bless El Salvador,” Luna stated.
Model of Productive Reintegration
Among the most notable efforts is the textile manufacturing plant, where 6,500 inmates produce 600,000 garments monthly, including medical uniforms, schoolwear, and protective gear. In the shoemaking workshop, 6,000 inmates manufacture 150,000 pairs of shoes each month.
The white goods workshop employs 1,200 inmates to repair household and industrial appliances, while the prison farm involves 800 individuals in agriculture, poultry, and livestock. These initiatives aim to create a self-sustaining food system within the penitentiary network.
In the automotive sector, 900 inmates provide maintenance for government vehicles, and others contribute in areas such as furniture making, pottery, painting, cleaning services, fumigation, and detergent production. The furniture workshop alone has delivered nearly 90,000 school desks and chairs nationwide.
Construction, Education, and Culture
Nearly 15,000 inmates work with the El Salvador Construction Company, supporting public infrastructure. An additional 62 inmate crews are renovating schools under the government’s Two Schools a Day Plan.
More than 500 inmates are currently helping develop protected agriculture through mesh house construction with irrigation systems, and 8,000 more assist in hospital and community maintenance.
Beyond labor, training and cultural programs are integral to the system. Over 44,000 individuals have received vocational education, and a symphony orchestra composed entirely of inmates now performs in public parks and plazas every weekend as part of national reintegration efforts.