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hanns - Chile |
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Human Resources
- There are very few jobs and inadequate housing for poor migrants.
- Most of the workers with low paying jobs live in run-down buildings in the older neighborhoods.
- Chileans work the longest hours on average of any country in the world – there is no legal limit on work hours per week.
- The average professional worker in the United States earns approximately $36.29 per hour, whereas the Chilean average is $5.50 per hour.
- There is extensive evidence of discrimination against women in Chile – some women are required to take a pregnancy test prior to being accepted for employment.
- Women usually make a percentage of the salary of their male counterparts.
International Staffing Policy
- Work is hard to come by for foreigners who are not temporary or permanent residents.
- According to the Chilean Interior Ministry, 12,000 of 150,000 foreign workers in Chile are undocumented.
- In the year 2000, 18,000 foreigners were granted residence permits.
- Many workers are unskilled Bolivians and Peruvians.
- Chile has three types of working visas:
- A temporary visa issued to professionals and trained technicians
- A contract-specific visa with a specific employer, which is valid for up to two years
- A visa for exchange students seeking part-time work.
Health Insurance
- There are no vaccination obligations for entry into Chile.
- Medical insurance should be obtained from home country, and should include evacuation in case of serious emergency.
- Foreign health insurance may not be accepted in Chile; therefore out of pocket payment would be required.
- Some international credit cards are accepted by private providers in return for services.
- Foreign embassies sometimes maintain lists of English-speaking doctors who may have overseas training, and are numerous in the capital and other large cities.
The Disabled
- Chile can be a problematic country for people with disabilities.
- Wheelchair users will face narrow, uneven sidewalks in the cities, fast-moving traffic, and the rugged terrain in the countryside.
- Public transportation can rarely accommodate passengerswith disabilities.
- Few older buildings are specifically equipped for the disabled, however, the prevalence or earthquake means they are low and can often accommodate them.
Harassment
- Many Chileans men view foreign women as sexually available, and this tends to lead to harassment problems.
- Harassment is usually verbal, but can turn ugly quickly. It is best to ignore such comments, which are obvious by tone of voice even a person do not understand them.
- Dressing and acting conservatively can go a long way in helping to avoid problems.