MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Leading Chilean bishop calls for improved income distribution

Chilean Episcopal Conference president Monsignor Alejandro Goic who played a leading mediation role in a labor conflict in the copper mines, said that one of the causes for labor strife are low salaries and suggested that the “minimum salary should really be converted into an ethical salary”.

In a television interview bishop Goic said that it would be very positive for the Chilean community that "at least all those who can should not pay the minimum salary but rather 250.000 Chilean pesos (equivalent to 500 US dollars). That would be a first step in the right direction". "Chileans must look into their hearts, think in the needy and ask themselves if they can live with a wife and child on 120.000 pesos (equivalent to 240 US dollars). I'm not saying we're all going to be equal, because that is utopia and hard to come by, but it's beyond discussion that some big companies are making a lot of profit, why then not make workers participate when they are who help generate the wealth of the country", said Bishop Goic. "Chile must continue to grow, poverty can't be distributed, and that's why we have to be so careful, on the one side not to discourage businessmen to invest and produce, but on the other also that profits somehow are shared". "Our country's economy is growing and I hope that we continue to grow at five or six percent. So isn't this the right time to start a national debate over how best we should distribute this wealth to our country's poorest?" said Goic. "Chile needs to solve the scandalous differences which exist in this country with respect to income distribution". Monsignor Goic added that "the number of poor people, thank Goodness, has diminished in Chile, but they could fall further if we are able to share a little more fairly wealth, which is generated by all, and in that respect I believe that the next stage, following the consolidation of democracy and with the country growing, such abysmal differences must be addressed and for that we must dialogue". Earlier in the week he had called on "the men of good faith" to analyze the existent income distribution in Chile and asked for more equality and social justice. He also rejected criticisms from some copper mine investors who accused him and the Catholic Church of favoring an "anti business climate". "The church's purpose is to search for the union and communion of all; not mediation but a bridge to pacify spirits. We must all make a great effort to become a more equal society, we must grow with social justice otherwise we will face mounting conflicts".