President Vizcarra: 75% of Peru households to benefit from Universal Family Bonus

16:00 | Lima, Apr. 23.

The President of the Republic Martin Vizcarra on Thursday afternoon announced that the Universal Family Bonus will cover 75% of Peruvian households which do not rely on formal income at end-month —a measure that constitutes an economic support to face the current COVID-19 emergency.

Within this framework, the Head of State said the Government is aware that the financial support provided to some families is still insufficient.

The top official indicated that there are around 32 million citizens in Peru who make up more than 9 million households, according to the most recent census.

25%

In this sense, the statesman referred that 25% of households can have peace of mind thanks to a salary, because they work in productive economic activities that remain operational during this emergency such as: food production; trade in markets, supermarkets, pharmacies, and in the financial system. They are on the payroll.

75%

Mr. Vizcarra explained that the other 75% of households require financial support.

"They constitute 6.8 million households that are not on the payroll, because they have independent or informal jobs, which see their income go down at this time of emergency," he expressed.

Therefore, the President explained that now the proposed assistance is to support families who do not have a monthly salary.

"We have arranged for the Ministry of Economy and Finance to allocate the bonus of S/760 (US$223) to them," he stated.

Through the Ministry of Inclusion and Social Development (Midis), the Government has transferred the S/380 (about US$111) subsidy to each of 2.2 million families.

"But we must complete it now. Through the Ministry of Labor, we have given the S/380 bonus to 525,000 independent workers," he explained.

When adding both groups, the aid reached 2.7 million households with a partial support of 50%.

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

Initially set to last from March 16 to 30, the social isolation measure had been first extended to April 12, then thru April 26, and recently until May 10.

Thursday marks the thirty-ninth day of mandatory social isolation.