– The event took place at Blumar facilities in Talcahuano and was attended by Governor Sergio Giacaman, Mayor of Talcahuano Eduardo Saavedra, and the Regional Ministers of Labor and Women.
On the occasion of International Women’s Day, hundreds of workers from the fishing and salmon industries met today in Talcahuano to participate in the meeting “Activate your power: strategies to advance and transform your path”. The activity featured a workshop led by Empoderadas Chile, which sought to highlight the contribution of women in the operations of different companies in the industry, strengthen ties, and promote a space for reflection and confidence building.
The event was organized jointly with the National Coordinator of Salmon Workers and SalmonChile, took place at Blumar facilities, and was attended by companies from two of the country’s most important industries: Camanchaca, Yadrán, Salmones Austral, PacificBlu. The meeting also included the Governor of Biobío, Sergio Giacaman; the Regional Minister of Women, Camila Contreras; the Regional Minister of Labor of Biobío, Sandra Quintana; and the Mayor of Talcahuano, Eduardo Saavedra.
“We aim to make women visible in economic sectors historically dominated by men. They have an essential role in the different stages and processes of the industry,” said the Regional Minister of Women. Along these lines, she thanked “the efforts of management, union leaders, and the coordinator for creating this empowerment space. These are the spaces we want for women, where they can reflect, have moments of care and support.”
“In this industry, women have work that provides them with opportunities, not only good pay, but also quite extraordinary working conditions. We should have this standard throughout the country. Safeguarding quality jobs like those currently offered in the fishing and salmon industries is a challenge we face as a country; these industrial sectors should be examples to replicate in other productive sectors,” said Giacaman.
The head of Studies and Projects at SalmonChile, Marcela Bravo, highlighted that “through SalmonChile and the equity committee on which we have been working for four years, we have wanted to create this initiative, which is part of the ten-point plan to which the industry has committed, the 16 salmon production and supply companies that participate in this committee”. The document aims at increasing women’s participation in the industry and in leadership positions, ending wage gaps, among other elements.
For his part, Mayor Saavedra stated that as a municipality “we are working on the main threat facing women in Talcahuano, the region, and some areas of the country, which is the processing of the fishing law bill, which could leave thousands of women unemployed”.
