Chile to ease hiring of Bolivian seasonal farm workers

The Chilean government will amend Supreme Decree 177 to simplify the recruitment of foreign seasonal agricultural workers, especially those from Bolivia. The proposed changes, discussed by Agriculture Subsecretary Francesco Venezian and SERMIG director Frank Sauerbaum, include allowing citizens of approved countries to apply for temporary residence using their national identity cards, enabling digital signing of employment contracts through the Labour Directorate’s platform, and extending the permitted annual stay from six to ten months while keeping up to five‑year renewable permits.

The measures aim to meet the sector’s high labor demand while complying with the Migration and Foreigners Law. Sauerbaum emphasized that “the agricultural sector requires faster mechanisms to access temporary labor, but these changes must be made within the legal framework,” and Venezian said the reforms will give greater certainty to producers. Authorities also reminded that Bolivian workers can already obtain a two‑year Mercosur temporary residence permit without cost.

These adjustments are based on a proposal from the National Agriculture Society and are intended to regularise and streamline seasonal hiring practices.