Temporary workers—those in agriculture and construction as well as port workers and entertainers—may form unions, but their right to collective bargaining is limited.
Intercompany unions were permitted to bargain collectively only if the individual employers agreed to negotiate under such terms.
Collective bargaining in the agricultural sector remained dependent on employers agreeing to negotiate.
The law permits replacement of striking workers, subject to the payment of a cash penalty that is distributed among the strikers.
The law provides that children between the ages of 15 and 18 may work with the express permission of their parents or guardians, but they must attend school; 15-year-old children may perform only light work that does not require hard physical labor or constitute a threat to health and childhood development.
[1] In August 2005, the SERVICIO NACIONAL DE MENORES (SENAME)[2] released a report indicating that, as of September 2004, there were 1,123 cases of children and adolescents involved in the worst forms of child labor.
SENAME, in coordination with labor inspectors, has a system for identifying and assisting children in abusive or dangerous situations.
SENAME operated rehabilitation and reinsertion programs in 75 municipalities for exploited child workers.
SENAME also implemented public educational programs to create awareness about child labor and its worst forms.
Insurance mutual funds provide workers' compensation and occupational safety training for the private and public sectors.
Authorities effectively enforced the standards and frequently imposed fines for workplace violations.