Mainstream and Marine Harvest respond to Chile report
As reported earlier in FishfarmingXpert, the Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions (LO) recently issued a report from its findings after a visit by its Fisheries Committee to Chile last month. The main conclusion in the report was that while both of the Norwegian companies Mainstream and Marine Harvest have better conditions for their workers than the rest of the salmon farming industry in Chile, the report states that there exists a clear opportunity for improvement that must take place in cooperation between the workers and management.
The report has not yet been available in english on LO's web site, but the Norwegian version describes a number of areas that could use improvement, although little direct evidence is provided. Areas like wages, safety equipment, government subsidies and working conditions are mentioned as being in need of attention.
Mainstream has responded to Norwegian media that it provides wages well above the required minimum, that it received a total of NOK 4.1 million (approximately $US 778,000) from the Chilean government in 2007. Mainstream claims it deserves praise for the work it has done during the past five years with respect to improving working conditions and wage levels.
Likewise, Marine Harvest questions some of the statements in the report, which it points out are unsubstantiated or generic in nature. Some of the accusations are very serious, the company said. Marine Harvest also states that the positive sides of its work in Chile is missing in the report.
Both companies said that they are positive towards LO and the interest that the organization has shown in their activities in Chile, and they invite a closer collaboration between union leaders from their companies in Norway and Chile.
Photo: Rolf Jørn Karlsen, leader of the LO-delegation to Chile.
