Andina

Peru President: Executive willing to reach consensus with Congress on pension funds

14:29 | Lima, Mar. 31.

The Executive Branch shows the highest willingness to reach consensus with Congress regarding the proposal for citizens to withdraw funds from the Pension Fund Administrators (AFP) in the face of the national health emergency decreed due to coronavirus (COVID-19), President Martin Vizcarra said on Tuesday.

The Head of State indicated that —for this purpose— Prime Minister Vicente Zeballos and Economy Ministry head Maria Antonieta Alva attended a Congress session this morning, at the invitation of the Parliament's Board of Spokespeople.


"They (Zeballos and Alva) went (to Congress) with a technical justification and the greatest willingness we have as the Executive Branch to seek consensus," he remarked.

President Vizcarra affirmed that —at this time of health crisis— it is not possible for authorities be in confrontation. 

Last Monday, the Council of Ministers approved that citizens —who are affiliated to Pension Fund Administrators (AFP) and have not been on the payroll within the last 12 months— can withdraw up to S/2,000 (about US$584) from their funds.

According to the top official, AFP resources are made up from workers' contributions; so it is time to make them available to people in vulnerable situations.

Remarks were made in a virtual press conference, within the framework of a mandatory social isolation imposed to prevent the COVID-19 from further spreading in the South American country.


On this occasion, the President was joined by members of the Council of Ministers. The event was held at the Government Palace in Lima.

Tuesday marks the sixteenth day of mandatory social isolation.

(END) FHG/CVC/MVB

Published: 3/31/2020