Peru Eliminates Labor Rights For Young Workers

A large campaign against the Peruvian government’s new labor laws was launched Monday by various labor groups, civil society organizations, and youth groups.

The Peruvian Congress approved the controversial package of laws that eliminates a number of labor rights for workers aged 18 to 24.

The package removes compensation for lenght of service, bonuses, social security, and life insurance. It also reduces occupational insurance and vacation time from 30 to 15 days.

It was introduced as part of the neoliberal reforms proposed by the executive branch to boost the economy and incentivize the hiring of young people who have no work experience.

Margarita Romero is a labor law student who will be affected by the new laws when she graduates and starts looking for jobs this coming year.

She is preparing to join a protest on Friday and told teleSUR,, "What this government is looking to do is revitalize the economy through the work and efforts of many young people like me, who are going to work as much as any other ordinary worker, but are going to receive less benefits.”

Young workers “are going to find themselves trapped in that system, and obviously out of economic nee they are going to have to continue with this arrangement," she continued.

The Peruvian Confederation of General Workers (CGTP) will also be joining the protests.  

Cesar Soberon, the head of the youth branch of the CGTP, explained that the package also allows employers to fire large groups of people more easily.

“This regime is presented together with a law that promotes collective firings, a set of laws that permits businessmen to hire young people at a low cost,” Soberon stated. 

He added, “They are telling you, 'you know what? I have a law I can use to fire you, and I have another law I can use to replace you.'”

Soberon noted that, “With these [laws], they want to put fear into workers so they won't discuss salary increases, access to social benefits, among other labor rights.”