The Human Side of Maintenance
Competition for skilled labor heats up in the Andes
Maintenance plays a critical role in ensuring the reliability, safety and productivity of Chile’s mining operations, especially as the country’s mines become increasingly automated and remotely operated. However, the sector faces a tightening labor market, where service providers must compete with large mining companies for skilled personnel. The harsh working conditions and remote locations typical of Chilean mining only compound the difficulty of attracting and retaining talent. As a result, maintenance companies are being pushed to develop more innovative human resource strategies, invest in training, and deepen ties with local communities to build and maintain a stable, skilled workforce.
Chile presents unique challenges to companies regarding labor shortages, as many of the mines are located in the remote north of the country, where there is a particular lack of training and skilled labor compared to more urban regions like Santiago. “For example, in the Antofagasta region there is high demand for labor, yet a scarcity of available workers, which can lead to absenteeism and excessive medical leave. While we are well-equipped to work in various terrains and altitudes, the human element poses the greatest challenges,” said Ignacio Pérez, general manager of Nexxo, a leader in providing long-term maintenance services to Chile’s mining industry as part of the Echeverría Izquierdo Group, continuing: “Our focus remains on building strong relationships with our workforce to foster loyalty, commitment, and a stable work environment.”
Fluitek represents product lines in Chile on behalf of companies like Rexroth Bosch and Gore sealing systems, and has recently started moving towards more long-term work in maintenance and installations rather than just sales. The company has noted how competition with mining companies for qualified personnel is affecting this expansion. “Competing against large mining companies with completely different conditions is challenging. They offer many benefits related to copper prices - if copper prices rise, they offer more benefits and become more attractive. It has not been easy for us to retain talent, but we use formulas and try to get close to our personnel and develop them,” said Alan Fraser, Fluitek’s general manager.
Service companies cannot offer such benefits as their margins are affected by many more factors, meaning they have had to come up with more innovative solutions in order to attract and retain talent.
Recognizing the difficult conditions mine workers operate in and how this makes it harder to attract the required talent to the industry, service company Ferrostaal is putting in more internal systems and initiatives to help with this challenge, and in the hope of being able to increase their client base. Pablo Sánchez, CEO, said: “We have a whole process where we connect with communities, municipalities and institutions. We also developed internal software to manage the database of collaborators. When a project comes, we put them through a series of psychological and knowledge tests because the jobs are risky and we need to have good indicators and ensure that all people are safe.”
The company achieved record results in 2024, executing two ENAP refinery shutdowns ahead of schedule involving over 2,000 workers. Ferrostaal works on the maintenance of the electrical and communications systems at El Teniente. With around 80% of the mine run from the operations center in Rancagua, constant maintenance is vital to the overall operation of the mine.
In 2024, Equans was able to secure a new contract and consolidate its mining maintenance expertise, with a strong presence in northern Chile of over 1,100 workers in the Antofagasta region. The company is committed to using local teams, rather than running its operations purely from Santiago, looking to address diversity in its workforce as a result. Christian Diaz, CEO of Chile and Latin America, Equans, commented: “We aim to increase female participation in operations, not just in back-office roles but also in fieldwork, where we believe women bring significant value to mining operations. We are committed to providing equal opportunities for all employees, fostering an inclusive environment, and supporting local communities.”
“Our commitment to safety is reflected in our track record—many of our mining contracts have gone for several years without any lost-time accidents. Our goal is not only to meet safety standards but to exceed them.”
Christian Díaz, CEO of Chile and LATAM, Equans
However, having such specialized talent in the field is not always easy. “There is a clear gap between specialized technicians and supervisors. Many technicians aim to move into supervisory roles, which creates a shortage of highly skilled field personnel. To address this, we implement training plans that strengthen the skills of our current workforce, allowing us to fill service gaps across our operations. In addition, we offer retention packages and career development plans,” explained Jeant Peinado, general manager for Confipetrol in Chile.
After expanding into the Chilean market, Confipetrol has experienced 100% growth year on year and was recently awarded a five-year contract with Codelco’s Andina Division. For this contract to be carried out successfully, challenges in the workforce will need to be addressed systematically to make Confipetrol as efficient and productive as possible. “We have implemented strategic plans in health, safety, quality, and environmental areas, all under a unified HSEQ management system. We place strong emphasis on awareness and internalization of safety. Safety should not just be a checklist; it must be ingrained in every worker’s mindset. We train our teams to think and act safely, to look out for each other, and to strictly follow safe work procedures,” continued Peinado.
Despite strong growth and new contracts, maintenance companies in Chile’s mining sector face persistent challenges in sourcing and retaining specialized talent. The competition for workers, particularly in northern mining hubs, is fierce, and service providers must often overcome limited margins and less attractive benefits than the mining operators themselves. Success increasingly depends on their ability to create inclusive, safety-driven workplaces with clear development pathways and community engagement strategies. In a mining landscape where reliability and efficiency are non-negotiable, the evolution of the maintenance sector will remain central to sustaining Chile’s global competitiveness in copper and beyond.
“You spend all day in darkness and humidity, constantly at risk, and with long shifts. It is increasingly difficult to attract people, as young professionals prefer a more comfortable work environment in the city.”
Pablo Sánchez, CEO, Ferrostaal
Article header image courtesy of Confipetrol