by Bob Walsh
The Prison Industry Authority is a public-private partnership within the CA prison system. They make stuff for government consumption with low-cost inmate labor. Right now they are making, among other things, cloth barrier masks.
The PIA is currently making and selling two types of masks. The ones with ties go for $3.10 each. The ones with elastic go for $2.45 each. The cost of manufacturing, including administration and transport, is about $2.31 and $1.66 each.
Prisoners get from 40 cents to $1 per hour for labor, up to $1.50 per hour overtime, which is authorized for this project.
The Chinese are selling essentially the same masks for about 1/5 of what PIA is selling them for.
The PIA says the average price in the current market for the masks is about $11.85 for the tie masks and $9.36 for the elastic masks, but noted that prices from on-line suppliers vary widely, from as little as $3 each to as much as $15 each.
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