Ventisqueros issues statement following complaint filed by union

A union representing processing workers employed by Chilean salmon farmer Ventisqueros has claimed that some of their members have had to use staff toilets to express breast milk “as there is no suitable, private, clean, and specially equipped space for exercising this right”.

The Ventisqueros Seafood Workers Union also claims there have be cases of female workers who, “after reporting their pregnancy, have faced actions to remove their maternity leave protections, long after their contracts had been converted to permanent positions. Practices that should be obsolete are now being normalised again at Ventisqueros. Subsequently, they are dismissed from the company once their maternity leave protections have ended and before a court ruling is issued, thus circumventing legal protection.”

According to the union, the company “has adopted the practice of sending warning letters based on non-existing absences, and then requesting the dismissal and suspension without pay of the workers. The same practice is used to intimidate the rest of the workers”.

Treating the claims seriously

In a statement to Fish Farming Expert’s Chilean sister site, Salmonexpert.cl, Ventisqueros said: “We maintain a permanent commitment to respecting people, complying with current labour regulations, and promoting safe and suitable work environments in accordance with the standards we promote for all our employees.”

The salmon farmer said that the situations raised by the union, “particularly those related to respect and treatment of people, are matters we consider relevant and taken with the utmost seriousness”.

It added: “Any situation requiring review will be addressed through the appropriate internal channels and, if necessary, through the mechanisms provided for by current labour regulations.”

Vemtisqueros stressed that “we act with all the responsibility and seriousness that this type of matter requires”.