Peru: Thousands Protest Against Labor Rights Cuts and Youth Labor Precarity

• Thousands of workers marched in Lima on August 13 to oppose government-proposed labor reforms.
• Protesters demand the removal of provisions threatening existing labor rights from the government's legislative power request.
• The CGTP union coalition warns against policies that undermine unionization, collective bargaining, and established compensation benefits.

The Protest

• Organized by the General Confederation of Workers of Peru (CGTP), the march moved from Plaza 2 de Mayo through Lima.
• The coalition included:
  • Federation of Civil Construction Workers (FTCCP)
  • Municipal workers’ branches (FENAOM)
  • Single Union of Education Workers (SUTEP)
  • Workers from the health, manufacturing, and public sectors, including the CAS regime.
• The demonstration was supported by opposition senators and deputies.

Proposed Legislative Reforms

• Keiko Fujimori’s government is requesting legislative powers under the guise of promoting formalization, but the CGTP argues these measures seek to flexibilize contracts and reduce benefits.
• Reforms target:
  • Compensation for length of service (CTS) and bonuses.
  • Vacations, working hours, and overtime pay.
  • Profit-sharing arrangements.
• A specific concern is the introduction of a new special regime for young people, often compared to the previously rejected "Pulpín Law."

Union Demands

• Gerónimo López, CGTP general secretary, insists that any grant of legislative power must exclude all provisions negatively impacting labor rights.
• The CGTP demands strict adherence to International Labour Organization (ILO) conventions regarding unionization and collective bargaining.
• The protesters advocate for the development of a national "decent work agenda" to replace the current proposal for increased labor flexibility.