Contract labour mobilisation in Chile's copper mining and forestry sectors

Duran-Palma, F. and Lopez, D. 2009. Contract labour mobilisation in Chile's copper mining and forestry sectors. Employee Relations. 31 (3), pp. 245-263. https://doi.org/10.1108/01425450910946451

TitleContract labour mobilisation in Chile's copper mining and forestry sectors
AuthorsDuran-Palma, F. and Lopez, D.
Abstract

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of recent developments in employment relations in Chile, focusing on recent episodes of contract labour mobilisation in the forestry and copper mining sectors.

Design/methodology/approach – This paper is based on a consolidation of existing evidence from a range of primary, secondary and tertiary sources.

Findings – The paper demonstrates the inadequacy of Chile’s employment relations institutions to protect vulnerable workers and shows the capacity of contract workers to overcome such limitations by recurring to mobilisation. It argues that contract labour mobilisation rather than a shift left in government seems to offer a more plausible explanation of current developments in Chilean employment relations.

Research limitations/implications – The paper identifies salient issues but further research is necessary to understand the actual social processes of collective action involved in recent episodes of contract labour mobilisation.

Practical implications – This information could contribute to better policy making, better management of the employment relationship, and informing the revitalisation of labour movements.

Originality/value – There are few studies on contract workers’ collective action particularly in developing countries, and a contribution is made to critical debates on the sustainability of Chile’s neoliberal socio-economic and employment relations system.

KeywordsChile, Outsourcing, Subcontracting, Labour Mobilisation, Mining Sector, Forestry Sector
JournalEmployee Relations
Journal citation31 (3), pp. 245-263
ISSN0142-5455
Year2009
PublisherEmerald Publishing Limited
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1108/01425450910946451
Publication dates
Published2009

Related outputs

Women in Construction, Wood and Forestry: a Resource Toolkit for Gender Equality at Work
Schiano-Phan, R., Guedes, C., Georgiadou, M., Clarke, L. and Duran-Palma, F. 2023. Women in Construction, Wood and Forestry: a Resource Toolkit for Gender Equality at Work. Brussels, Belgium European Federation of Building and Woodworkers. https://doi.org/10.34737/w7608

Chile – from Pinochet’s neoliberal counter-revolution to the 2019-20 anti-neoliberal revolt
Duran-Palma, F. and Urrutia, M. 2023. Chile – from Pinochet’s neoliberal counter-revolution to the 2019-20 anti-neoliberal revolt. in: Atzeni, M., Mezzardi, A., Moore, P. and Apitzsch, U. (ed.) Research Handbook on the Global Political Economy of Work Edward Elgar.

Towards nearly zero energy building
Clarke, L., Duran-Palma, F. and Sahin-Dikmen, M. 2020. Towards nearly zero energy building. in: SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure Switzerland Springer.

Towards nearly zero energy building in Europe: the challenge of vocational education and training for the construction industry
Clarke, L., Duran-Palma, F. and Sahin-Dikmen, M. 2020. Towards nearly zero energy building in Europe: the challenge of vocational education and training for the construction industry. in: Leal Filho W., Azul A.M., Brandli L., Lange Salvia A. and Wall T. (ed.) Encyclopedia of the UN Sustainable Development Goals: SDG9Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation Switzerland Springer.

Inclusive Vocational Education and Training for Low Energy Construction: VET4LEC Final Report and Country Summaries
Clarke, L., Gleeson, C.P., Sahin-Dikmen, M., Winch, C. and Duran-Palma, F. 2019. Inclusive Vocational Education and Training for Low Energy Construction: VET4LEC Final Report and Country Summaries. Brussels European Commission.

Rethinking research supervision: some reflections from the field of employment relations
Bingham, C. and Duran-Palma, F. 2013. Rethinking research supervision: some reflections from the field of employment relations. Teaching in Higher Education. 19 (1), pp. 78-89. https://doi.org/10.1080/13562517.2013.827643

Employment relations in Chile and Argentina
Atzeni, M., Duran-Palma, F. and Ghigliani, P. 2011. Employment relations in Chile and Argentina. in: Barry, M. and Wilkinson, A. (ed.) Research handbook of comparative employment relations Edward Elgar. pp. 129-152

Labour reform in a neo-liberal 'protected' democracy: Chile 1990-2001
Duran-Palma, F., Wilkinson, A. and Korczynski, M. 2005. Labour reform in a neo-liberal 'protected' democracy: Chile 1990-2001. International Journal of Human Resource Management. 16 (1), pp. 65-89. https://doi.org/10.1080/0958519042000295957

Permalink - https://westminsterresearch.westminster.ac.uk/item/90wx2/contract-labour-mobilisation-in-chile-s-copper-mining-and-forestry-sectors


Share this

Usage statistics

124 total views
0 total downloads
These values cover views and downloads from WestminsterResearch and are for the period from September 2nd 2018, when this repository was created.