Lirquen port, Bio Bio. (Photo: Puerto Lirquen)
Port strike hits Bio Bio fishing sector
CHILE
Thursday, November 16, 2017, 02:40 (GMT + 9)
It is estimated that some USD 243 million has been lost by the Bio Bío Region due to the national strike that since November 7 has been carried out by port workers, who have been closing access to several terminals in the southern part of the country to claim charity pensions.
The losses were estimated by the Foreign Trade Bureau (COMEX), dependent on the Association of Manufacturing Product Exporters of Bio Bío (Asexma Bio Bío). The entity calculates that each day of the strike represents around USD 27 million for the VIII Region, reported El Mercurio.
The forestry sector, together with the fishing one, are the main economic activities in the region and those that are most affected by the strike because they depend on the ports in the area to send their products.
In addition, the measure is causing serious damage to the image of Chile, which affects both shipping companies and different customers of the country.
On Monday, the Port Trade of Bio Bío informed that it will maintain the stoppage until an agreement is signed with the Government.
"Although in assembly it was determined that the quotas and conditions offered for pensions in the talks to date are positive, it was also defined that the mobilizations will not be finished until the conversations have been recorded in a document and signed by the representatives of the Ministry of the Interior and the workers," said the workers' union.
The ports in which the workers initiated the measure are those of Lirquén, Penco, Coronel, San Vicente, Talcahuano, Huachipato, Corral, Valdivia, Calbuco, Puerto Montt, Chacabuco and Punta Arenas.
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