Peruvian farm workers resume road blockades after reform bill stalls
On Monday, workers from agricultural export companies in Peru have renewed protests after their government failed to reach an agreement to reform the sector and address their complaints over poor pay. Hundreds of agricultural workers are blocking the Panamerican highway that runs along the coast in the southern Ica region and the northern La Libertad region.
During a similar, five-day protest in early December, hundreds of passenger buses and trucks loaded with food were stranded by road blockades. The previous protests ended after Congress repealed an old agriculture promotion law that workers complained put the rights of big companies over workers, leaving them receiving salaries as low as $11,00 daily.
12/21/2020
By Marco Aquino
LIMA, Dec 21 (Reuters) - Workers from agricultural export
companies in Peru renewed protests on Monday after Congress
failed to reach an agreement to reform the sector and address
their complaints over poor pay.
Footage from local television showed hundreds of
agricultural workers blocking the Panamerican highway that runs
along the coast in the southern Ica region and the northern La
Libertad region.
During a similar, five-day protest in early December,
hundreds of passenger buses and trucks loaded with food were
stranded by road blockades.
One person died after clashes between protesters and police.
So far, the latest protests have been peaceful.