MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

ISA virus forces closure of salmon processor in Chile

One of southern Chile's most renowned salmon processing plants, Chinquihue belonging to Norwegian company Marine Harvest and located in Puerto Montt was unexpectedly closed down April 12 leaving 600 workers redundant. The original idea was to close the plant in late June.

However a request by the unions that production level be lowered during a delicate and complicated time for the company, beleaguered by the serious sanitary situation (Infectious Salmon Anemia) affecting the Chilean salmon fish farming industry, led to the drastic decision according to a press release from Marine Harvest. The company was currently involved in discussions with union leaders and regional authorities on the closure of the plant and the possible relocation of workers in an effort to minimize the impact of the decision. Marine Harvest said labour unions affected by the situation refused to take part in the initiative last week, which clearly was to the benefit of the plant's workers, and preferred "to stall production and consequently increase processing costs". This situation endangered job stability for other Marine Harvest workers so "it was decided to close down the plant and not prolong an unnecessary conflict" adds the release. Nevertheless the company will pay special above average compensations, announced Vilma Caviars, director of Human Resources at Marine Harvest. "There is no question that the biological situation Marine Harvest is currently facing is extremely difficult, and has led to several results. In terms of labour, several salmon farms have closed and work in the Chinquihue plant has been definitely suspended". "It is extremely painful to uproot a significant number of people that have worked with the company for 20 years and who are excellent employees" she added, according to reports from the local newspaper El Llanquihue. Regarding worker relocations Caviars said that "the labour reinsertion process with mussel farming companies has been undertaken giving priority to those who have been left redundant because of the ISA virus in salmon farms". She said 26 plants had been contacted with a potential of 650 job positions. "There was a total willingness by the mayor, the governor, and the Regional Ministerial Secretary (SEREMI), to put together a labour commission," the official pointed out. It was also reported that Marine Harvest's Business Unit Chile/US CEO Torben Petersen resigned his post last week on the expiration of his contract. (FIS).-