“I used to think that all I had to do was work and receive orders. Then I woke up and realized that it shouldn’t be like that, that I have to rebel against that”, said the representative of the commission of rural workers of the National Association of Rural and Indigenous Women (ANAMURI).

Rivera has been a seasonal worker for 30 years. She has worked in the wine harvest sector. She says that ANAMURI has been essential in encouraging rural women to stand up for their rights.

ANAMURI member and Real World Radio correspondent, Viviana Catrileo interviewed Riviera on August 25, the day of the celebration of the National Day of the Agriculture Working Woman in Santiago, Chile’s capital.

Riviera mentioned some of the battles won by women rural workers, such as the fight to secure women workers a place to eat and drinking water. The leader also criticized the employers. “This is the worst that could happen to seasonal workers, because the employer has a salary without doing anything, just thinking and bringing people to work. They take money from us many times”, she said.

Photo: ANAMURI