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Public Order and the Duty of the State

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Letter published inEl Mercurio

In a September 27 publication in "El Mercurio," we addressed the external violence we have suffered over the past 27 years and stated that the State is responsible and must take on the prevention and control of this issue.

This stance arises from the decision of the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare to include in the National Policy on Safety and Health at Work (2024–2028) the obligation for employers to "adopt effective measures to reduce and mitigate risks associated with external violence in workplaces, especially in sectors such as forestry, transportation, and services."

On September 29, in the same outlet, the Undersecretary of Social Security reaffirmed this position, recalling that Article 184 of the Labor Code requires companies to take measures to mitigate the risks of external violence affecting their workers.

We emphatically state that the Government is confusing corporate obligations regarding workplace violence and Article 184 of the Labor Code with the State's responsibility to prevent external security threats, crime, and terrorism. It is not feasible for companies to take on the control of public security, as it is the State's duty, in accordance with international agreements and the Constitution, to guarantee public order. Therefore, we demand that the Government assume its true responsibility in the fight against crime and terrorism, respecting the rule of law.

RENÉ MUÑOZ KLOCK Manager, Association of Forestry Contractors A.G.