Anglo American has confirmed a large layoff of 180 workers at the Los Bronces mine, which it said is experiencing a transformation process. The company said “this is a difficult decision, but necessary to do.”
“We do not know yet the distribution between the different groups and units,” said Ivan Mlynarz, leader of the Los Bronces Supervisors Union. The company reported said the “Los Bronces mine is facing significant challenges for the future, and the structural characteristics of our deposit translate into higher-cost processes that affect our competitive position in the industry.”
The transformation project involved an investment of $2 billion. The Environmental Impact Assessment will be sent for approval in March.
“The future viability of Los Bronces requires adjusting the way we organize ourselves, how we work and the technology we incorporate, in order to improve our efficiency and productivity,” the company said. “As a result of this process, today 180 workers leave the company. It is a hard but necessary decision, and we are doing this based on our values, where the care and respect for people is essential.”
Chilean Minister of Labor Nicolás Monckeberg, explained that they cannot intervene in desicions made within the scope of the private sector and said the workers have the right to submit any judicial remedies they consider pertinent.
