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Acoforag Warns That "The Lives and Health of Thousands of Workers Are in Danger"

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• The Association of Forestry Contractors A.G. points out that violence against workers has already become normalized, and no one—including authorities—is surprised that this occurs periodically in the southern macrozone.

During the past week, three attacks on workers were recorded in the regions of La Araucanía and Biobío:

The first took place on Thursday, April 4, when an agricultural workers' bus was attacked and burned near Púa, in the municipality of Victoria. The following day, Friday, April 5, another shooting attack occurred against three forestry workers on Route R-49, which connects Collipulli with Curaco, in the municipality of Collipulli. On Saturday, April 6, yet another shooting targeted a forestry worker on the way to the Casas Antiguas property, in the Las Maicas sector, municipality of Mulchén.

In light of these reprehensible events, the Association of Forestry Contractors A.G. (Acoforag) emphasizes that violence against workers has already become normalized, and no one—including authorities—is surprised that this occurs periodically in the southern macrozone.

Furthermore, "no one speaks about the constitutional rights of workers, guaranteed by the State, which are systematically violated by armed groups that operate and carry out their terrorist actions with impunity—even under a state of emergency."

In addition, the association states that the lives and health of thousands of workers are at risk, "and we do not see real and concrete actions from legislators and political authorities, including Labor Minister Jeannette Jara, to advance legislation and measures that would help control or reduce these incidents."

Acoforag stresses that it is already time toADDRESSthis state of permanent insecurity faced by workers. "That would be, we believe, the responsible way for any authority to react to the harsh and brutal reality that forestry workers face in the southern macrozone," the Association stated.

ASSOCIATION OF FORESTRY CONTRACTORS A.G.

Concepción, April 8, 2024