At the headquarters of the International Labor Organization (ILO), in Geneva (Switzerland), the Minister of Labor and Social Welfare, Jeannette Jara, deposited on Friday the instrument that ratifies, by Chile, Convention 176 of the International Labor Organization, which deals with safety and health in mining. With this, the instrument will come into force in the country in 12 months.
The Secretary of State, who is at the 112th International Labor Conference taking place in the European country, delivered the document to the Director General of the ILO, Gilbert F. Houngbo.
“What this Agreement does is strengthen our mining health and safety standards; above all, considering the mining nature and the contribution it makes to the economy of our country,” said Minister Jara.
The authority explained that “the main objective of this international agreement is to make standards that further strengthen the integrity of workers, so that when they go out to earn a living at their source of work, they return home calmly, healthy and insurance. “We are proud of the work we have done to advance the decent work agenda that the Government of President Gabriel Boric has promoted.”
Also participating in the delivery of the document were, among others, Senator Loreto Carvajal, her peers Matías Walker, Iván Moreira and Rodrigo Galilea and the ambassador and permanent representative of Chile to the UN and other international organizations in Geneva, Claudia Fuentes-Julio. Representing the workers was the president of the Unitary Central of Workers (CUT), David Acuña, and the president of the Confederation of Copper Workers (CTC), Ana Lamas. On the part of the employers, the legal manager of the Confederation of Production and Commerce (CTC) attended,
Pablo Bobic.
The president of the CUT, David Acuña, highlighted that “ILO conventions are fundamental to be able to advance legislation and labor rights for workers. We have to continue moving forward and, for this reason, we have asked the Government to ratify Convention 155, on safety and health at work, and Convention 81, on strengthening labor inspections. Here at the ILO, where tripartite dialogue is fundamental and is the basis of democracy, we are going to continue working and insisting on achieving decent work for all.”
Ana Lamas, from the CTC, said that “it is a pride and an honor to be able to complete a stage of this process that is so important for workers, which has to do with the deposit of Convention 176, on safety and health in mining, because It is a desire of the workers, because it has to do with the life of each one of them.”
Convention 176
On December 12, 2023, Congress sent the draft agreement that ratifies ILO Convention 176, which deals with safety and health in mines. Previously, as recommended by the international organization, the instrument was approached in a tripartite manner, with the participation of the government, workers and employers. This, within the framework of a sectoral subcommittee of the Higher Labor Council.
Three representatives of the Coordinator of Mining Workers (Ctmin) participated in this subcommittee, which coordinates the seven national organizations of mining workers (Confemin, CTC, Fesuc, FTC, FMC, Fesumin, and Fesam). ; three of the employers’ organizations (Consejo Minero, Sonami and Aprimin); and representatives of the Labor, Mining and Economy portfolios.
Chile is, thus, one of the 35 countries that have ratified this agreement, which has mainly been done by those nations where mining has a high preponderance in the economy.
Minister Jara explained that, after the deposit, the country must adapt national legislation to the international treaty, which is a fundamental tool for strengthening the rights of workers in the mining sector, especially in relation to the right to consultation and participation in health and safety measures.
The instrument also provides relevant definitions on the concepts of “mine” and “employer”, covering in the latter item main contractors, contractors and subcontractors.
It also specifies the rights and obligations of workers and employers in the sector, in addition to recommending a series of scopes to adapt the legislation to the contents of the agreement, as well as the designation of the competent authority in charge of monitoring and regulating the various aspects of safety and health in mines, and provide adequate inspection services to supervise the application of measures and provide them with the necessary resources to carry out their tasks.
The execution of the agreement, meanwhile, will come into force twelve months after the date on which its ratification has been registered with the ILO.
