Andina

Peru: 80% of lost jobs to be recovered by end of Phase 2 reopening

16:36 | Lima, Jun. 8.

80% of jobs that have been lost or suspended —due to the state of emergency put in place to contain the spread of COVID-19— will be back by the end of Phase 2 of the economic reactivation in Peru, Labor and Employment Promotion Minister Sylvia Caceres projected on Monday.

"We expect to bring back 80% of the lost jobs —both direct and indirect— at the end of Phase 2, which will precisely depend on how companies implement the corresponding health protocols," she told Radio Nacional.

Caceres stated that 50% of economic activities resumed by the end of May, and the Government is working to increase such percentage to 80% by the end of Phase 2 of the reopening.

"We are committed to reverting this problem of employment with the economic reactivation. It is a gradual and responsible reactivation," the Cabinet member explained.

"We are aware of the concern in that respect, which is why we are working on complementary measures to contain the uncertainty of companies that opt for renewing contracts or applying perfect suspension (suspension without pay)," she added.

On the matter, the minister stated that —at present— 8% of companies with workers on the electronic payroll have invoked the perfect suspension.

"On June 5, a Deputy Labor Ministry's report found that around 28,000 companies submitted their respective applications, that is to say, about 250,000 workers would be waiting for a response from the country's labor authority," she said.

(END) VLA/JJN/RMB/MVB

Published: 6/8/2020