July 16, 2026

Episode 21: Payroll in Chile

26 minutes

Chile is a country marked by extremes. Along with being the longest country in the world, the Latin American country is also the narrowest in the world, with an average width of only 177 km. For reference, that’s roughly the distance between Amsterdam and Brussels. Chile is popular among visitors thanks to its varied and striking landscapes, from the majestic glaciers of Patagonia in the south to the Atacama Desert in the north. The latter, which is also the oldest and driest non-polar desert on Earth, is an operational site for many mining companies. Chile’s mining industry dominates the world market for copper and iodine, while being the second-largest producer of lithium. Because these companies usually operate in extremely remote regions, it’s common for employers to offer their employees bonuses and tax benefits as an incentive for moving there.

For businesses looking to gain a foothold in Latin America, Chile presents an appealing option. It has one of the most stable, high-income economies in Latin America and a legislative environment that remains relatively predictable. But multinational companies coming to Chile must contend with a complex web of labor rules, unions, and payroll regulations. In this episode of Payroll Around the World, we’re joined by ADP experts Andrea Mollenhauer, Senior Sales Manager at ADP Chile, and Felipe Rodriguez, Senior Product Manager for Chile, Peru, and Argentina, as they share insights into Chile’s payroll culture. We also speak to Catalina, a manager at a mining company in the Atacama Desert who gives her perspective on her company’s financial incentives from an employee’s perspective.

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