SQM, BHP, Antofagasta Minerals, and Lomas Bayas, a Glencore company, signed an agreement with UCN through the Empleo Región program.
The milestone aimed to strengthen alliances with mining companies that have supported the project from its inception, enhancing regional employment and human capital. Empleo Región serves as a crucial platform to foster a more robust and effective connection between job supply and demand, improving access to the labor market.
In a public-private effort, Empleo Región aims to reduce commuting phenomena, which continue to rise despite decreasing job offers in the region. According to Dr. Rodrigo Alda, Rector of Universidad Católica del Norte, this signing “marks a milestone that continues a project dating back to 2020, creating an employment platform that not only connects job supply and demand but also generates data for public policy development.”
Camila Cortés, Seremi of Labor and Social Security, emphasized Empleo Región’s goal to promote local hiring and the importance of collaboration among major job creators in the region and academia. This collaboration aims to conduct necessary research to enhance both public and private sector workforce improvements.
“We must continue advancing together in reducing unemployment rates, decreasing commuting figures, and continuously improving the human capital in the Antofagasta region. We are pleased that the signing companies have expressed their commitment to continue this program, which is vital for the regional development of all inhabitants of our Antofagasta region,” expressed Cortés.
Participating in this milestone event were SQM, BHP, Antofagasta Minerals (via Minera Zaldívar), and Lomas Bayas, a Glencore company.
“We strongly believe in collaborative management, and our commitment not only involves active participation but also spreading awareness of the benefits of this platform to all companies in our production chain, thereby expanding opportunities across the entire industry in the region,” stated Pablo Carvallo, General Manager of Minera Lomas Bayas, a Glencore company.
Pablo Pisani, Corporate Affairs Manager of Yodo Nutrición Vegetal at SQM, reaffirmed their commitment to regional employment, aligning closely with local expectations of SQM’s operations in the north. “We recognize the continuous effort required to promote regional hiring, and this platform achieves a high standard,” he added.
Felipe Alveal, Northern Public Affairs Manager at Antofagasta Minerals, highlighted their longstanding participation in the Empleo Región project, emphasizing its role in fostering a positive interaction between job seekers and employers while nurturing local human capital development.
Cristóbal Marshall, Vice President of Corporate Affairs at Escondida BHP, underscored that Empleo Región helps identify local talent, contributing to improving regional employment figures. He also noted BHP’s high percentage of local workers, stressing that diverse teams are safer and more productive, motivating their collaboration with industry, academia, and the Antofagasta region to enhance opportunities.
