In the days prior to our AGM the Pure Salmon campaign and union representatives from Chile raised some serious accusations towards Marine Harvest in the media. Yesterday at the AGM, CEO Åse Aulie Michelet clarified the misunderstandings.
The representatives claimed that they were promised by HR Director Peter Gillies that the plant at Chinquihue (Chile), should be held open until June 2008.
Marine Harvest has been forced to downsize our activities in Chile. This has also led to the closing of the plant in Chinquihue. There has never been any agreement of a fixed date for a closure. We wanted of course to be in operations as long as possible. This was also conveyed by Peter Gillies, but when we experienced a situation with a shortage of raw material for production, an increased number of LTAs and an unsafe working environment, we decided to close the plant immediately.
All employees were paid in full for the notice period and received severance pay according to Chilean law.
– I regret that Mr. Gillies was named and targeted in this respect and would like to ensure everyone in MH that he has my full support in this matter, CEO Åse Aulie Michelet states.
The other accusation that was presented in Norway was that Marine Harvest had paid bribes to union representatives in connection with the closing of the plant in Chinquihue.
In the undesired situation of redundancies in Chile, Marine Harvest has followed Chilean laws and regulations. We have paid out severance to all involved, also union representatives who have special legal protection in Chile. This has been respected by Marine Harvest and we have paid severance under these laws to 10 union representatives.
Our operations in Chile have recently been audited by an external body.
Marine Harvest will continue to restructure our operations in Chile with the firm belief that this will bring us a solid base for a sustainable salmon farming production in Chile in the years to come. The employees in Chile who are all working hard in achieving this, has our full support.
