“Unemployment in Chile is extremely high, which means that employers can choose more freely their hiring conditions. In addition, there is a law in our country that establishes that one person can be fired “if the company deems it necessary”, said Sonia Sagredo, from the Unionist Peasant National Confederation RANQUIL from Chile.

Vines, raspberries, blueberries and avocados are a source of intensive and precarious work for half a million Chilean people, “who live in miserable conditions”.

One example of this is world renowned wine company Concha y Toro. “I worked there for many years, at the Casablanca sector, which is very good for producing wine, and I know what happens there and in what conditions the workers are”, said Sonia.
(“Los vinos Concha y Toro saben a explotación”) is a Facebook group where people can find photographs of women having lunch in poor conditions, under the sun, without bathrooms or drinking water.

“This company that appears in TV promoting their products, announcing 2007 as the best vintage in many years, which is Chile´s third largest wine company and that doubled its profits in 2007, keeps its workers in undignified conditions”, state the members of the group.

Sonia Sagredo also said: “The neoliberal system established early in Chile has resulted in a situation where the only important thing is to have money to buy things…and in the case of women the consequences are even worse, because our political background is different to that of men. Women accept being paid less because unemployment for them is higher”, Sonia said.

Photo: “Los vinos Concha y Toro saben a explotación”