BHP Site Workers in Chile Denounce Non-Compliance with Karin Law

The Supervisors and Staff Union of Minera Escondida filed a complaint with the Antofagasta Labor Inspectorate.

The Supervisors and Staff Union of Minera Escondida | BHP, located in Chile, accuse the mining company of non-compliance with the new Karin Law. In a statement, they indicated that “this law, which is a reality for millions of workers, does not exist at Minera Escondida.”

On August 1st, Law 21.643, popularly known as the Karin Law, came into effect to prevent workplace abuse and harassment. According to the union's complaint, these issues are still prevalent within the mining operation.

“Its workers, often victims of abuse and harassment by their executives, are surprised, disheartened, and outraged that the largest private mining company in Chile, with the world's largest copper mine, has decided not to comply with the law,” they stated.

Alexis Barrera, president of Supervisors and Staff Union No. 2 at Minera Escondida, emphasized that "unfortunately, Minera Escondida leaves its workers, especially its female workers, defenseless. They prefer to operate and apply their own internal regulations."

The union accuses Escondida of choosing to "operate with its own internal rules, secret and obscure procedures, and the 'BHP Charter of Values.'” According to the statement, the internal regulations have not been adapted "to include the protocol against sexual harassment, workplace harassment, and violence at work."

Complaint to the Labor Inspectorate

As a result, the union filed a complaint with the Antofagasta Labor Inspectorate: “We hope that the public agencies responsible for enforcing the law act quickly and put an end to this serious violation,” the statement concluded.

For his part, Barrera expressed that “we believe that BHP and Escondida should stop pretending to be above Chilean labor legislation.”