The company's workers met with executives 24 hours after the company announced it had unexpectedly halted steel production due to extreme financial stress.
Chilean steelmaker Huachipato has confirmed to its workers that on September 15 it will shut down the blast furnace at the steelmaker's Talcahuano plant, while unions will go to Santiago to demand explanations from CAP regarding this decision.
The company also informed the Anti-Distortion Commission that it is withdrawing from the process to establish fixed surcharges on Chinese steel.
The company's workers met with executives 24 hours after the company announced it had unexpectedly halted steel production due to extreme financial stress.
In this regard, they were told that the closure plan includes shutting down the blast furnace in mid-September and the coke plant in October, while Huachipato informed the contractors that it will review the situation of each one on a case-by-case basis.
The company also informed the Anti-Price Distortion Commission that it is withdrawing its request to establish fixed surcharges for Chinese steel, which are currently temporary, something that the workers attribute to an unequivocal signal that the decision is irreversible, said Fernando Orellana, president of Workers' Union No. 2.
The leaders met with the Presidential delegate in Bío Bío, Daniela Dresdner, who said that they will support the process and insisted on the Government's strictness in the face of the decision taken by the company.
The Roundtable for the Defense of Employment and Industry in the region gave its support to plant workers and contractors, pointing out that unemployment will increase in the region.
His spokesman, Iván Montes, called on the political class to be clear about the scenario they will face.
In response to this, DC deputy Eric Aedo said he would propose a special bill for the economic reactivation of the region, which would involve investment and facilitation of new projects.
The Chilean government has promised to support workers in a process called a fair transition, but the regional minister for labour, Sandra Quintana, insisted that it is the company that has to take charge of a dignified exit for its workers.
Huachipato is not a bankrupt company, stressed the Minister of Finance, Mario Marcel, when asked about the situation of the steel company, pointing to the controller CAP, which has had good results in other mineral extraction businesses or logistics operations.
In response, the Secretary of State reiterated the questioning raised by La Moneda regarding the role played by Huachipato and Moly Cop in this crisis.
Chilean Economy Minister Nicolás Grau, who led the dialogue and negotiations related to the Huachipato situation in recent months, is expected to arrive in the area next Monday, but the workers are already coordinating a trip to ask the CAP for explanations for the surprising measure.
