Images of supermarket workers in Puerto Montt wrapped in blankets and drinking coffee to endure the heat went viral on social media. cold. In response to the debate on working conditions in extreme climates, Congressman Héctor Ulloa announced the presentation of a new legislative initiative aimed at regulating temperatures in the workplace.
This measure seeks to be applied not only in extreme conditions, but in a way that guarantees a comfort suitable for workers at all times. Deputy Ulloa explained that currently, the law in Chile only regulates thermal stress, that is, conditions of extreme cold or heat.
“It is not possible that today only the law is regulating extreme conditions cold or extreme heat (…) Today in Chile the only thing that is regulated is thermal stress, that is, conditions of extreme heat or extreme cold,” commented Ulloa, stressing the need to expand this regulation to include a temperature range that ensures the well-being of workers.
From the Executive, the Minister of Labor, Jeannette Jara, expressed her support for the initiative for the comfort at work. “We hope that the Ministry of Labor will seek to ensure that all workers in the country have adequate temperatures for the well-being of workers. Not only should extremes be prohibited, but that they should be better off at work,” said Jara.
Deputy Mauro González also spoke out on the issue, indicating that improvements in working conditions within supermarkets and other workplaces should not wait for the enactment of a new law. González called on companies to take proactive measures to improve the thermal conditions of their workers, recognizing that waiting for formal regulation could prolong employee discontent over the situation. cold.
