U.S. Embassy in Peru issues alert over farm worker protests
The U.S. Embassy in Lima, Peru on Dec. 23 reported widespread protests of agricultural workers in multiple regions of the Andean country.
The U.S. Embassy, in its demonstration alert, did not give the reasons behind the protests.
“There are ongoing widespread protests of agricultural workers in multiple regions of Peru affecting travel along the PanAmericana Sur and PanAmericana Norte highways in the Ica and Trujillo regions,” the demonstration alert said. “The Peruvian National Police deployed a large force of police officers in response. Avoid travel in the affected areas if possible, as the situation is ongoing and evolving. The protests may continue for several days until the situation is resolved.”
The extent of disruption to the produce supply chain, if any, was not known the afternoon of Dec. 23.
In mid-December, Peru was shipping multiple fresh produce items to the U.S., including asparagus, bananas, plantains, blueberries, grapes, mangoes, onions, citrus and other items to the U.S.
According to several media reports, widespread Peruvian protests were first sparked in November after the removal of President Martín Vizcarra. The president of Peruvian Congress, Manuel Merino, replaced Vizcarra. However, he resigned after five days following large protests that resulted in two deaths and hundreds of injuries in clashes with the police.
On Nov. 16, Congress of Peru elected Francisco Sagasti as the president of the legislature, which also elevated him to the Peruvian presidency.
Protests
One U.S. importer, speaking on background, said the farmworker protests have created scattered disruptions in harvest operations.
Protests blocking the north-south PanAmerican Hwy, on the other hand, slows the movement of exports and also limit shipments of inputs like cartons, bags and general goods like food, fuel and medicine.
So far, the importer said the disruptions have been short enough to be recoverable.
Jean Paul Crousillat, general manager at Peru-based Jim’s Produce said the protests have slowed trucks with empty refrigerated containers accessing sheds and slowed filled refrigerated containers from accessing ports and the airport in Lima.
Speaking by email Dec. 23, Crousillat said the roads have been cleared in the south but the north continues to be blocked.
“All these issues are affecting mainly grape, mango and asparagus shipments,” he said.
Protesters, he said, have cited low wages and poor working conditions.
“Unfortunately in Perú the agro industry has a large informal factor composed mostly of small informal companies that do not comply with labor regulations and take advantage of certain legal loopholes to the detriment of the workers,” he said.
“Having said that, there is also an important formal component to this industry composed of several small, medium and large agroexport companies that do abide by the law and labor regulations, providing their workforce with good working conditions. As you well know, many sell to retailers in the U.S. and Europe that require certifications for standard labor conditions, and are audited annually to make sure they comply.”
After recently abolishing a 2000 law that helped spur agriculture investment and development in Peru, the Peruvian Congress is working on a bill that should improve conditions for workers, keep these formal companies competitive, and include stronger regulations that will force the informal sector to either transit to the formal sector or disappear, Crousillat said.
That will be a challenging task, he said, and there is much uncertainty as to what the final result will be.
“2021 is an election year in Perú, both for congress and president. So yes there is an important political element in the shadows of these protests as well,” he said.
While there is room for improvement, he said the growth of agriculture and produce exports in Peru have contributed significantly to increased employment and a reduction of poverty in Peru over the past 20 years.
