A plan designed to increase opportunities for women at our operations at Escondida in Chile is changing the way we approach candidates for recruitment, especially for technical roles.  

With inclusion and diversity recognised as a key driver of productivity and safety, the Employability Plan is helping to proactively improve eligibility of women for technical roles within the operation. 

For more than 30 years, Escondida’s workforce has consisted mostly of men. However, gender diversity is increasing with women employees rising from 7 per cent in FY2016 to around 44 per cent in FY2025. 

The Plan’s focus has been on training women with the interest, passion and desire to be part of the mining industry, rather than only considering women who already possess the relevant technical skills. 

The Employability Plan includes strategies and programs designed to enable women to gain the technical skills they need, including an initial training program, a trades training program and an alliance with local contractors to enable them to increase their representation of women.  

The process begins with an open call to interested women to participate in the program. Candidates are evaluated through an interview process, with successful applicants commencing three to four months of training at CEIM (Industrial and Mining Training Centre) under the supervision of the Technical Training team.  

Once the course is complete, candidates start as trainees to gain the practical skills they need to work at Escondida. This is for a period of six months initially, with the option of renewing for an additional six months.  

After this period, candidates are evaluated based on performance and cultural alignment, and if successful, may be appointed to an appropriate role in the company following a merit-based selection process.  

Since the program began the average number of applications received for each course has been around 1,400. As of the end of CY2024, 702 women had successfully completed the training at CEIM as operators and maintainers of concentrator plants, extraction truck operators and electrical and mechanical maintainers.  

The program has included women from diverse ethnic and Indigenous communities.  

At the end of FY2025, more than 350 women had successfully completed the training program and are now a part of the Escondida workforce, representing a 74 per cent success rate. These women work in a variety of roles in Escondida’s concentrator plant, mine maintenance and mine operations, increasing the diversity of our teams. 

Chilean Government authorities are aware of the impact of this program and our commitment to improving diversity, inclusion and quality of life in the communities where we operate.  

Going forward, we are focusing on encouraging local employment opportunities for women among local contractors whose workforce does not exceed 10 per cent representation by women currently. We are seeking to do this by co-creating training and plans that enable women to be eligible for placements with these local contractors.