Faced with the threat of cuts to labor rights, included in the request for legislative powers by Keiko Fujimori’s government, the General Confederation of Workers of Peru (CGTP) called for a peaceful march on August 13. Thousands of workers from different trade unions, collectives and civil society marched peacefully from Plaza 2 de Mayo through the streets of Lima, with the support of opposition senators and deputies.
In the first mobilization during Fujimori’s government, CGTP representatives urged “the Congress of the Republic not to allow the violation of labor rights, not to allow an attack on rights won through years of struggle and sacrifice. We demand the right to a bonus, compensation for length of service (CTS)…” CGTP leaders told the population.
The demonstration brought together trade unions such as the Federation of Civil Construction Workers (FTCCP), municipal workers’ branches (FENAOM), the Single Union of Education Workers (SUTEP), and at the national level the Health sector, public and private sector workers, manufacturing, industry, State workers under the CAS (Administrative Services Contracting) regime, Historical Citizen Agreement (AHC), among others.
Remove labor rights from the legislative powers
Gerónimo López, general secretary of the CGTP, stated that “if the government wants to be granted legislative powers, it must remove the provisions affecting labor rights. It must respect ILO (International Labour Organization) conventions such as the right to unionization, collective bargaining and rights won through years of struggle. We cannot allow cuts to labor rights, nor precarious work for young people”.
Under the argument of promoting formalization, the request for legislative powers made by Fujimori’s government seeks to make the contracting regime more flexible, applying reforms to CTS, bonuses, vacations, working hours, overtime pay, profit-sharing, among other rights. Likewise, the creation of a special regime for young people (new Pulpín Law) is announced, which had already been rejected previously.
The demonstrators reiterated their intention to guarantee decent employment for the country’s working class, for which they propose the creation of a national decent work agenda.
Photos: Grimaldo Ríos, Jorge Pizarro Pacherres.
