Peruvian workers and union members protest in Lima over wages, working hours, fuel prices and public health services.

Peruvian construction workers will present demands for higher wages, shorter working hours and improved public services.

Peruvian construction workers and union groups are mobilizing in Lima on Thursday against policies of President Keiko Fujimori’s government, with organizers set to present a national list of labor demands that includes higher wages, better working conditions and a shorter working week.

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The Federation of Civil Construction Workers of Peru called the demonstration for 9:30 a.m. local time, bringing together workers from different regions. The National List of Demands 2027 calls for reducing the weekly working schedule from 48 to 44 hours without cutting pay, alongside wage increases and improved working conditions.

The mobilization is also focused on rising fuel prices and shortcomings in the public health system, including a lack of appointments, medicines and medical professionals.

Dispute over legislative powers

The protest follows a demonstration on Wednesday, when workers, union leaders and representatives of social organizations gathered outside Peru’s Congress to demand that lawmakers reject a request by the government for delegated legislative powers.

Members of several unions clashed with police in central Lima during that demonstration, which opposed a package of legislative measures submitted by Fujimori’s administration.

The latest mobilization follows regional strikes reported in August in Loreto and Ucayali, driven mainly by increases in fuel prices. That month, representatives of Peruvian labor organizations also took to the streets to oppose policies they said could affect workers’ rights.

The political tensions stem from the government’s request for Congress to grant it authority to legislate independently for 120 days in eight areas, including citizen security, labor issues, productive development, taxation, state modernization and measures to prevent the effects of the El Niño phenomenon.

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