Minera Gaby S.A. and its Workers
We want a company that workers are proud to belong to, because it is the best mining company to work in.
Headcount
2.8Scale of the reporting organization. (including geographic breakdown, sectors served, and types of customers/ beneficiaries). LA1Total workforce by employment type, employment contract, and region. MGSA’s own headcount for 2010 totaled 388 workers. 98% of them are hired under indefinite term contracts, and 2% under fixed term contracts. The contractor headcount for the same period totaled 2,385 workers.
 
LA2Total workforce by employment type, employment contract, and region. MGSA’s turnover for 2010 was of 11.8%, with a total of 46 terminations during the period, of which 9 were women and 37 were men. This turnover value is slightly higher than that of 2009 (11.7%).
LA7Rates of injury, occupational diseases, lost days, and absenteeism, and number of work-related fatalities by region. Absenteeism rate in 2010 was 3.12%, with 18 days lost. This figure is 1.04% higher than in 2009, with only 14 days lost. This rate, due company gender equality policies, only considers medical leaves due to illness, work and commuting accidents, and excludes maternity leaves or any other circumstance related to pregnancy. Absences and leaves not part of the collective contract are also included.
Labor Rights
One of the challenges for Minera Gaby S.A. is the promotion of worker rights and the quality of their work life, especially in aspects related to their working conditions and their right to freedom of association and participation.
LA14Ratio of basic salary of men to women by employee category. One well known national problem in labor right matters is the difference between salaries paid to men and those paid to women. MGSA has implemented a single salary scale for each position, regardless of the gender of the employee. Thereby we can affirm that salary difference is based only on the relative experience, performance and skills of employees.
LA4Percentage of employees covered by Likewise, MGSA had two unions in 2010: the MGSA Workers Union, with 211 member employees, and the MGSA Union of Professional Employees and Analysts, with a membership of 76 employees. Total unionization at Gaby SA Mining Co reaches 74% of own headcount, 16.5% higher compared to 2009.
Health and Safety at Work
LA7Rates of injury, occupational diseases, lost days, and absenteeism, and number of work-related fatalities by region.For the third consecutive year, MGSA did not record any cases of professional illnesses nor fatal accidents, thus meeting the challenge of ensuring people’s safety.
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Education and Training in Occupational Health and Safety
LA8Education, training, counseling, prevention, and risk-control programs in place to assist workforce members, their families, or community members regarding serious diseases. Bound to the commitment of maximizing the value of the business in a sustainable manner, the Mining Co, through its Occupational Health program, trains and advises its employees in prevention and risk control issues, including first aid, handling of hazardous substances, emergency plans, etc. Likewise, there are specific programs focusing on hygiene at the workplace and occupational health. This, with the counseling and support of the administrating entity for Law 16,744, to which the company adheres.
Participation in Occupational Health and Safety Committees
The Integral Health System incorporated to the MGSA Occupational Safety and Health Management System (SGSSO), has the purpose of ensuring the physical integrity and health of all the people within the mining worksite, thus reflecting the permanent and non-negotiable value of protection of life as a value of the organization.
LA6Percentage of total workforce represented in formal joint managementworker health and safety committees that help monitor and advise on occupational health and safety programs.For this reason, and in compliance with applicable legislation, the company has two Safety and Health Joint Committees that represent 100% of the workforce. Besides this, there is a Department of Risk Prevention at the worksite whose role is advising contractor companies when they do not have a risk prevention expert, and overseeing compliance with the special  regulations of the Safety and Health at the Workplace Management System. Said department is also in charge of planning, organizing, advising, executing, supervising and promoting ongoing actions for work accident and professional illness prevention.
Rights and obligations regarding Occupational Health and Safety
 LA9Health and safety topics covered in formal agreements with trade unions. Work contracts incorporate rights and obligations regarding safety and health. Workers –prior to joining MGSA- are subjected to pre-occupational exams to assess their general health conditions and the conditions needed to face the risks implied in the job they are to perform. Besides this, there are occupational examinations and medical checks during the work period and upon termination. The latter is applied to any worker terminating their work contract, with the purpose of analyzing if their health was affected by the performance of their job for the company.
The agreements with the Minera Gaby S.A. Workers Union regarding these issues are formalized in a number of clauses contained in the Collective Agreement, and refer to health plans, elements and work clothing, transportation (from and to Calama), meals at the worksite and workdays.
