Agreement won for temporary port workers in Chile

6 March 2008

Temporary port workers in Chile are to be covered by a new agreement thanks to negotiations by Chilean dockers’ representatives.

The agreement, which was signed on 19 February, was negotiated by the Sindicato de Estibadores Marítimos del Puerto de Chañaral, the Coodinadora de Trabajadores Marítimos Portuarios de Chile and stevedoring company Agemar. The deal brings to an end an ongoing dispute over the working conditions of temporary employees between workers and the company.

As a result of the agreement, temporary port workers are guaranteed three months’ work and eight shifts per month. They will also receive a monthly minimum wage. Previously the number of shifts a temporary employee was able to work was limited, leaving them on poverty wages. Other ports currently only offer temporary workers six shifts monthly.

Jorge Silva Berón, President of the ITF-affiliated Federación Sindicatos Trabajadores Portuarios del Puerto de Iquique stated: "The company agreed to all the essential points and in my opinion today our colleagues have one of the best agreements for temporary workers, currently available in Chilean ports".

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