Annual Report 2007 - Antofagasta plc

Corporate Social Responsibility continuedCSR REPORTHuman ResourcesThe Group recognises that its most importantassets are its people. It operates within the existingemployment legislation in Chile and continuallyimproves working conditions by applying bestmanagement practices to maintain a motivated labourforce and harmonious employment relations, improvesafety conditions and promote a healthy lifestyleamongst its employees and subcontractors.The Group also respects employee rights bybanning discrimination in the workplace. As part ofits management of human resources to achieve theseobjectives, the Group considers the business cycle,environmental factors, socio-economic and politicalfactors as well as the expectations of its employeeson both a medium and long-term basis. It also aims,as far as possible, for labour to be sourced locally inorder to ensure that the benefits of its operations andprojects are shared with the communities in whichthese are located.In order to achieve this, AMSA, encourages the miningdivision to develop suitable policies, guidelines andmanagement procedures in line with the overallcorporate vision outlined in its manual of generalmanagement policies for human resources. In 1997,AMSA implemented a Labour Control System for allits operations and projects and which involves periodicreviews and audit of labour practices. The Group keepsits human resource systems and procedures underregular annual review and identifies and considerslegal, union and remuneration issues. This reviewlooks three years ahead to identify the challengesfacing each company and an action plan is thenformulated and updated regularly by seniormanagement.El Tesoro became the first company in Chile to signan agreement with the National Service for Women(“SERNAM”) to implement a series of actions intendedto promote gender equality in the workplace in 2007as part of the Group’s non-discrimination objective.Similarly, during the development of the Tesoro North-East project, El Tesoro incorporated workers fromCalama, Antofagasta and Sierra Gorda in its operationsin order to ensure that employment opportunities weremade available locally. Employing a local workforcerequired an intensive training programme at theTechnological Mining Centre to improve its abilityto operate heavy equipment safely. Many of the 80participants on the programme were later employedas fulltime workers at El Tesoro and Esperanza. TheEsperanza project wants to ensure that at least 30%of workers in its construction and operations areaswill be from the Antofagasta region. In order tocreate a qualified labour force that can achieve thehigh standards required by the project, a trainingprogramme will be established for approximately1,000 people including school leavers.In 2007, the Group employed an average of 3,323employees. An analysis by business segment isprovided in Note 7(a) to the financial statements.Shift meeting at El Tesoro.44Antofagasta plc Annual Report and Financial Statements 2007