The company said in a statement the agreement that supervisors would not receive a pay rise in the coming contract was backed by 88% of the union`s members and the signed deal would remain in place for 36 months from November 1, 2020. "The responsibility and shared vision between the El Teniente supervisors and the company to meet goals and achieve the best results for Chile prevailed," said Codelco, which hands all its profits to the state.

In 2019, El Teniente generated around $1.046 billion in revenue and this year anticipated "a similar amount," the company said.

The world`s biggest copper miner has largely maintained production since the pandemic outbreak in March with a skeleton staff and all non-essential work halted, though June and July saw drop-offs in output. The company is also facing a combination of declining ore grades and costly overhauls of ageing mines.