Mixed response to Peruvian national strike

On Monday of this week, Peruvian miners held their second national strike over demands for changes in the country’s labour laws.

According to the Peruvian government, the numbers of miners involved in the action were small but Jesus del Castillo, a director at Peru’s biggest federation of mining unions, asserts that 16,000 of the 22,000 workers represented by the federation joined the strike.

The industrial action disrupted production at Yanacocha, Latin America’s largest gold mine, and at two mines and smelting plant operated by Southern Copper.

Whilst many other mines were affected, including Antamina, Peru’s biggest copper mine, workers at several important mines did not join the strike.

Barrick Gold and Milpo, the zinc producer, both reported that work continued as normal.

An earlier national mining strike, in May, was called off after the government promised to amend labour rules.

The mining unions want the government to restrict the level of outsourcing practiced by some companies, whilst also reducing minimum retirement ages and giving workers the right to enroll in state-run pension funds.

However, two bills covering the demands have been held up in Congress because Peru’s president lacks a majority in the legislature.

Peru is the world’s premier silver producer, third-largest producer of copper and zinc, and fifth-largest producer of gold.