Seasonal Migrations and Global Exports: Dynamics of Temporary Employment in Southern Chile

Abstract

The global dynamics of importing and exporting fresh produce generate seasonal migratory flows of temporary workers. These movements impact the socioeconomic conditions of the populations involved, leading to poverty, informal labor, and family breakdown. The research focuses on southern Chile, analyzing seasonal migrations stemming from blueberry and salmon production in the Los Ríos and Los Lagos regions, commodities of significance to the regional and national economy. The study aims to understand the seasonal migrations of temporary workers by examining their socioeconomic compositions, spatial expressions, and sociohistorical transformations linked to these industries. Primary sources, such as semi-structured interviews, and secondary sources, including agricultural and aquacultural registries, were utilized. Findings reveal distinct socioeconomic groups, diverse spatial and social networks, and transformations tied to the temporality of migratory movements. The research acknowledges the unique context of southern Chile, framing migration within a specific geographic and economic setting, thereby illustrating how global economic dynamics manifest heterogeneously in local and rural contexts.