2018 International Organization for Migration (IOM) Mission Chile. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise without the prior written permission of the publisher. IOM Chile Chief of Mission Norberto Girón Area: Migration and Private Sector Coordinator Sebastian Mathews Consultant Jorge Ortuzar Project Assistant Philippine Vasseur Administrative Officer Carlos Valle Printed in Santiago, Chile, January 2018
FINAL REPORT: PROJECT STRENGTHENING IOM / PRIVATE SECTOR RELATIONS IN CHILE 03 PROJECT FINAL REPORT: STRENGTHENING IOM / PRIVATE SECTOR RELATIONS IN CHILE Within the framework of the IOM Strategy for Partnerships with the Private Sector 2016-2020 and in line with the MIGOF and the SDGs, IOM Chile developed three activities aimed at establishing strong relations between IOM and the Private Sector, and at raising awareness and generating knowledge regarding migratory issues among the sector. Hereunder, the activities will be presented, the First Inter-firm Roundtable on Migration, the Forum on Labor Migration Private sector and labor migration in the Maule and the Working lunch with the Private Sector in Osorno. Labor is one of the fundamental mechanisms of insertion and inclusion into a society. Therefore, the topic of labor migration in Chile acquired major importance in recent years given the increasing number of migrants heading towards the country. Moreover, the activities designed by IOM Chile were aligned with the Presidential Instructive N 05 of November 2015 of President Michelle Bachelet. This instructive states that the Government is responsible for the promotion of labor rights and social care for migrant workers and their families, particularly through migration regularization, formalization of labor relationships and joint responsibility between employers and employees. I. THE FIRST INTERFIRM ROUNDTABLE ON MIGRATION In the scope of the visit of the IOM Deputy Director General, Ambassador Laura Thompson to Chile, accompanied by the IOM Regional Director for South America Diego Beltrand, the first Interfirm Roundtable on Migration was organized by IOM Chile and held on October 30th, 2017 in Santiago. From left to right: Norberto Girón Chief of Mission of IOM Chile, Ambassador Laura Thompson IOM Deputy Director General, Sebastian Mathews in charge if the Migration and Private Sector Unit in IOM Chile and Diego Beltrand IOM Regional Director for South America.
04 A. WHAT WAS DONE? This first important discussion forum between the private sector and IOM involved 13 representatives with managerial positions of numerous Chilean business associations. The participants of this high-level meeting were: Fernando Alvear of the Industry and Trade Confederation, Rodrigo López from the Fruit Exporters Association, Mauricio Paschold from the Franchises Committee of the Santiago Chamber of Commerce, Rodrigo Monsalve and Laura Méndez from the Chilean-Colombian Chamber of Commerce, Francisca Olea from Dole company, Ana Fernández from a family business of fruits manufacturing and export, Roberto Schmitz from the Santiago Convention Bureau, Paulina Sierra from Chilean Hoteliers, Andrea Wolleter from the Federation of Chilean tourism companies, Manuel Ignacio Hertz from the National Agricultural Society, and Susana Moscarda from the Chilean-Paraguayan Chamber of Commerce. Discussion Forum of the Interfirm Roundtable on Migration B. WHAT WAS ACHIEVED? The level of attendance to the Forum results from the important efforts carried out by the Migration and Private Sector Unit established in January 2017 within the IOM Mission in Chile in order to develop and strengthen strategic partnerships in the field. Among others, IOM signed a cooperation agreement with the Federation of Chilean Industry - SOFOFA - an association which represents more than four thousand companies from the industrial sector throughout the country. The Forum enabled IOM to make the business leaders aware of the migratory phenomenon, and also to evoke concrete topics related to migrant workers inclusion, among others, recruitment process, recognition of professional qualifications gained outside of Chile and development of labor migration programs. The Interfirm Roundtable on Migration reflected the interests of both parties in working together on the labor and social inclusion of migrant workers in the different areas of the private sector.
FINAL REPORT: PROJECT STRENGTHENING IOM / PRIVATE SECTOR RELATIONS IN CHILE 05 1I. THE FORUM ON LABOR MIGRATION The second activity organized was the Forum on Labor Migration Private sector and labor migration in the Maule Region. It took place on November 24th 2017 in the Catholic University of Maule (UCM). The event was jointly organized by both institutions in the scope of the Collaboration Agreement signed between IOM and UCM in March 2017. Surely, it has to be understood that the event was held in the scope of a much broader strategy for IOM to establish long-term relationships with the regional authorities, representatives of the private sector and migrants in the region. Indeed, apart from the Collaboration Agreement, the strategy took shape with the establishment of an IOM office thanks to UCM support within the university facilities, which constitutes a privileged position for IOM to develop its activities and alliances within the Maule Region. A. WHAT WAS DONE? Representatives from the Private Sector, from the Regional Government, from the Academy and from the Civil Society participated actively in the Forum. In particular, one can mention the presence of Jorge Burgos UCM Relationship Director, Darko Jaime Tapia the Regional Director of Labor in the Maule Region, Carmen Maria del Pico responsible for the Regional Department of International Affairs, Ana Bell Jaras in charge of International Relations within the National Direction of Labor and Gustavo Espinoza, Chief of the Immigration and International Police Department of the PDI. The main objective of the forum was to analyze the current context of labor migration in the Maule Region and the conditions of labor insertion, but also to present good practices linked to labor insertion, protection and integral development of the migrant population in the region through the different presentations. From left to right: Jorge Burgos, Carmen Maria del Pico, Norberto Girón, Ana Bell Jaras and Darko Jaime Tapia participating in the Forum on Labor Migration called jointly by IOM Chile and UCM.
06 B. WHAT WAS ACHIEVED? To ensure a concrete and useful debate on the aforementioned topics, Carolina Martinez, operations manager of Hotel Casino Talca, Marlon Jiménez, assistant manager of FRUTASOL and Claudio Rojas, managing director of the newspaper El Centro de Talca shared their experiences. Indeed, as professionals working directly with migrants in the Maule Region, and compromised towards the facilitation of their inclusion within the labor market, they shared knowledge and practices that were valuable for the discussion. They underline the difficulties they have to face in their daily work like the question of interculturality, the remaining regulatory gaps that restrain the correct integration of migrant workers, but also, they stress the developments that have been made in the area and most of all, the added value that represent migrant workers for companies in the Region. Particularly, the presence of the Managing Director of the newspaper El Centro de Talca was responding to IOM priorities to design and implement a communication strategy to improve the perception of international migration and to counter misjudgments and preconceptions regarding migrant workers. The objective of the Forum, beyond its punctual dimension was to make the first step leading to the establishment of an institutional and binding working platform, able to coordinate every social actor from the public and private sphere. The implementation of the platform will result in the improvement of the migration governance, in accordance with the MIGOF principles. Therefore, at the end of the Forum, IOM Chile organized a working lunch to foster opinions exchange and criteria for a better management of labor migration in the Region, with key actors participating, from the Private Sector, the Regional Government and Migrant Organizations. Representatives from IOM Chile, UCM and organizations of migrant participating in the Forum on Labor Migration in Talca
FINAL REPORT: PROJECT STRENGTHENING IOM / PRIVATE SECTOR RELATIONS IN CHILE 07 III- WORKING LUNCH WITH THE PRIVATE SECTOR IN OSORNO A. WHAT WAS DONE? On the 1st of December 2017, IOM Chile launched a working lunch with representatives of the Private Sector, the Regional Government, the Health Service of Osorno and also migrant associations. IOM Chile, through the organization of such event, tried to foster an exchange of experiences regarding the rising incorporation of migrant worker in the agricultural and construction sectors in the Los Lagos Region. This event was held to pursue the work already realized by IOM Chile in Osorno. Indeed, a workshop on migrants trafficking had been organized by IOM for public servants for the Health Care Service in Osorno. During the workshop, the topic of the inclusion of migrants in fair and decent work conditions, guaranteeing basic human rights, was discussed. In this scope, it appeared relevant to organize an event that would assemble both the Health Care Service of Osorno and representatives from the Private Sector as despite the existing difference between their interests and focus, they have common and transverse concerns and priorities regarding the migrant community. From the private sector were participating Patricia Navarrete from the construction company La Quemas; Antonio Coronado General Manager of the construction company Balzola, Verónica Andrade Management and Development Manager of the construction company Balzola and Alejandra Rodiguez from the farming Treimun. From the migrant associations were participating: Sandra Ayunta y César Yucuma de Colombia Tierra Querida; María Jaramillo from the Civil Society Board of the Health Service of Osorno and Francisco Reyes Castro regional councilor of Osorno. From the Health Service of Osorno: Dr. Nelson Bello, Director of the Osorno Health Service, Dr. Sandra Jiménez, Assistant director of the Osorno Health Service, Erick Martínez, Head of Cabinet of the Osorno Health Service, Ariel Muñoz, Sub-Department of public participation, promotion and user-treatment, Pamela Reyes responsible for Health Promotion and Iris González, responsible for primary health care. From left to right: Antonio Coronado, Norberto Girón, Iris González, Maria Jaramillo and Ariel Muñoz
08 B. WHAT WAS ACHIEVED? Thanks to the meeting, many situations and characteristics of labor migration in the Region Los Lagos were highlighted. Among others, it was mentioned that in 2016 the number of migrant workers coming to Los Lagos rose significantly. This new variable is linked to the need of some companies for labor force that is not covered anymore by Chilean local workers. Therefore, these companies have started to hire migrants to cover these positions and maintain their production level. Some regulation difficulties have been pointed out for recruiting qualified migrant workers in terms of recognition of professional qualifications. This lunch put forward expectations emerging from the private sector for projections that enable the articulation of all sectors to reach a safe, orderly and regular labor migration. Working lunch with the private sector in Osorno called by IOM on the 1st of December 2017
FINAL REPORT: PROJECT STRENGTHENING IOM / PRIVATE SECTOR RELATIONS IN CHILE 09 GENERAL CONCLUSIONS AND SUSTAINABILITY OF THE PROJECT Throughout these events, the presence and active participation of representatives with executive positions demonstrated the strong interest existing within the Private Sector for migration issues and particularly labor migration in Chile. Besides, the activities are sustainable since their impact will be of major importance within the private sector as a whole, and not only for direct participants. Indeed, the knowledge and capacities shared and generated will be directly transmitted to companies and their employers, and also to central and regional authorities and to public servants. This cascade scheme will contribute to effectively improve the conditions of labor insertion for migrant workers in Chile and the understanding of the existing and future challenges and opportunities regarding labor migration. These events represent key milestones for the strengthening and consolidation of important relations between IOM Chile and the private sector. These new alliances will give the tools to IOM Chile, the Regional Government of the Maule Region and the Private sector to promote and ensure the rights and gender perspective when designing policies and strategic lines aimed at migrant workers and their families. Thanks to the funding opportunities for private sector Engagement 2017 IOM Chile was able to strengthen its commitment with the private sector and to make the first steps towards well-established and long-term partnerships with relevant actors from the private sector in Chile. Likewise, the funds allocated to IOM Chile led to a better knowledge of IOM work by non-traditional partners playing a key role in the development of a safe, orderly and regular migration in Chile. Due to all the above the events held and presented in this report only constitute the first step of a much long-term strategy to be developed within IOM Chile.