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Marcel Moenne, General Manager of Pacific Blue, talking to journalists (Photo: df.cl/Stockfile)
PacificBlu closes giant squid (jibia) processing plant
CHILE
Tuesday, August 13, 2019, 00:00 (GMT + 9)
PacificBlu announced on Friday the definitive closure of one of its giant squid ( Dosidicus gigas) processing plants and the stoppage of part of its fleet, which means that 367 workers will be left without work in the Bio Bio Region, mostly in Talcahuano and Hualpén.
As explained in a statement, the measure is due to the entry into force of the Law of the "Jibia" (giant squid).
"Once concluded the last season of industrial capture of giant squid and given the legal impossibility of fishing again for giant squid in the coming years, we are obliged to start a process of reduction of our staff," they said through the statement.
“We regret to inform that PacificBlu will end its employment relationship with a total of 367 workers, a decision that is linked to the entry into force of the Jibia Law and its impact on the company's future. The layoff process will start today, Friday, August 9,"the company reported.
Of the total number of workers that will leave the company, 230 correspond to plant employees, 31 work on ships, 10 in supervision and administration and another 96 in discharge and logistic support via contractor companies.
.jpg) Pacific Blu General Manager, Marcel Moenne explained that in recent years giant squid accounted for half of the capture of their ships, half of the production of the plants and also half of the coompany's income.
Moenne said that a significant percentage of the staff that already began to be disconnected had a contractual relationship subject to the harvest and processing season of the industrial giant squid quota, which ended on Tuesday, August 6.
Unlike previous years, this time their exit will be without return. In the case of the 230 workers of the processing plants, 62% are women and mostly heads of household.
After this adjustment, PacificBlu will go from having an average staffing of 1038 to 671 workers.
Jaime Foreman, spokesperson for the company´s plant staff, said that this is why they were pressing for a social platform that does not leave them in complete defenselessness.
“This law (of the giant squid) leaves us in a very critical situation regarding our economic sustainability. From now on, the company will only depend on the fishing for common hake and hoki that currently pay specific taxes that have risen inordinately,” they said from the company through the statement.
Source: BioBioChile
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