Trabajando por ti y para ti

Question

This is a political slogan here in Baja. I am looking for a native speaker to weigh in on the equivalent in English.

My best shot is: Working for you (as in you are the boss) and on behalf of you.

Does this capture the true meaning of this saying?

Correct. - chileno, Jun 5, 2013

Answer 1

Trabajar para is standard = I work for someone (ie. I am employed by them).

Trabajar por could mean that you're standing in for someone or for that slogan it probably means 'for the sake of' someone. So you work for (para) Macdonalds but for the sake of (por) your family.

I hope that makes sense.

MC, we seem to be in agreement - 005faa61, Jun 5, 2013

Answer 2

I think your interpretation is perfect as a political statement reversing por and para, although a play on words could also be "Working for you and doing your work for you" which would be pro PRI as sarcastic, but knowing the PRI, a more honest statement would be Trabajando para llenar nuestras bolsas. :- )

except that Gringo put the first instance 'trabajando por ti' meaning 'working for you' as in 'you are the boss' but I think he has them the wrong way round ;) - Kiwi-Girl, Jun 5, 2013

You´re right, although in this context of working for a business "por" and "para" are often interchanged like "por / para siempre". I don´t say it´s correct but that it´s common usage - 005faa61, Jun 5, 2013

Thanks to both of you. I used the "por" as "working for you" because I was told by a native that that was the intention but she could not explain the para other than a redundancy for emphasis. - gringojrf, Jun 5, 2013