Chile has a population of roughly 19 million people.[1] The country is highly urbanized, with 88% of its population living in urban areas.[2] The agricultural sector employs 9% of the workforce,[3] and accounts for 4% of the country’s GDP.[4]
The top produced commodities in Chile are grapes, apples, wheat, sugar beet and milk.[7] Similarly, Chile’s top export commodities in terms of quantity are wine, apples, grapes, prepared fruit and cherries.[8]
- ^ World Bank (2019). https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.POP.TOTL?locations=CL
- ^ World Bank (2019). https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.URB.TOTL.IN.ZS?locations=CL
- ^ World Bank (2019). https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SL.AGR.EMPL.ZS?locations=CL
- ^ World Bank (2019). https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NV.AGR.TOTL.ZS?locations=CL
- ^ World Bank. (2011). Towards a Vision for Agricultural Innovation in Chile in 2030. https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/handle/10986/2780
- ^ UNEP (2016). A Sustainability Standard for Chile’s Agriculture Sector. Geneva: UNEP. https://wedocs.unep.org/bitstream/handle/20.500.11822/22761/Sustainability_Chile.pdf?sequence=1
- ^ FAOSTAT (2019). http://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#rankings/commodities_by_country
- ^ FAOSTAT (2019). http://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#rankings/commodities_by_country_exports
Minimum wage
The minimum wage in Chile is set by law at 410,000 Chilean pesos (438 EUR) per month for workers between 18 and 65 years. Below the age of 18 and above 65 years old, the minimum wage is set at 305,851 Chilean pesos (326 EUR) per month.[1] Although labour laws are properly enforced in the formal sector, the government has an insufficient number of labour inspectors to ensure enforcement throughout the whole country. In the informal economy, workers are not guaranteed adequate wages. Most minimum wage violations occur in the retail and the real estate sector. Furthermore, the most vulnerable social group to labour exploitation are immigrant workers in the agricultural sector.[2]
- ^ Wage Indicator Foundation (2023). Minimum Wage-Chile. https://wageindicator.org/salary/minimum-wage/chile
- ^ U.S. Department of State. 2019 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices: Chile. https://www.state.gov/reports/2019-country-reports-on-human-rights-practices/chile/
Living wage
The Global Living Wage Coalition, has developed a Living Wage Reference Value study for non-metropolitan urban Chile based on the Anker methodology.
The Anker Living Wage Reference Value for non-metropolitan urban Chile is estimated at 727,536 Chilean pesos (748 EUR) per month. This is the wage workers need to afford a basic but decent standard of living in non-metropolitan urban Chile. The estimated living wage is almost double the national minimum wage (for workers between 18 and 65 years) and approximately twice the average wage for agricultural workers.[1]
- ^ Global Living Wage Coalition (2022). Anker Living Wage Reference Value: Non-Metropolitan Urban Chile. https://www.globallivingwage.org/countries/chile/
Living Wage Reference Value, Non-Metropolitan Urban Chile 
Living wage estimate for workers to be able to afford a basic but decent living standard for non-metropolitan urban Chile.
Formalization: The case of Chile
This ILO report shares practices to address informal labour in Chile with the aim of influencing policy.
Female Employment and Household Income in Chile
This scientific article focuses on the impact of the development of the Chilean fruit sector for women and household income.