Coronavirus: informal workers in a critical situation in Peru

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To cope with the pandemic, the Peruvian government declared a state of emergency and imposed confinement on its entire population. Result, Peru has been stopped for three weeks, the economy too. A critical situation for the 12 million informal workers in the country.

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With our correspondent in Lima , Wyloën Munhoz-Boillot

Since the start of the state of emergency three weeks ago in Peru, everyone has been confined to their homes. But some have no choice but to continue working. Jesus Diaz is a taxi driver in the center of Lima. " I have to keep working, it's my daily livelihood," he says. I'm afraid, of course, for my health, but I can't help it, I have to feed my family . "

Like him, there are 12 million informal workers in Peru working in precarious conditions: without an employment contract or social protection. They earn their living from day to day and generally receive less than the subsistence minimum. For them, containment is simply not viable.

No census of informal workers

Jessica is a single mother who ran a fruit juice stand at this crossroads in the north of the capital. Today, she sells fabric masks there to the rare passers-by. " We were told to stay at home, but all of my savings ran out, so I had to find a way to keep feeding my daughters. So, I sell masks to protect against the virus, at 50 cents each. With this work, I earn around 5 euros per day, ”she explains.

To help the most vulnerable during the confinement, the Peruvian government announced the payment of a subsidy of 100 euros to 3.5 million households. " I did not receive any subsidy, assures Jenni Tela, who runs a chicken stand in this popular district of Lima. Here in the neighborhood, nobody has received anything when we all need it . "

And for good reason, to date, no official register identifies these informal workers, who nevertheless represent 70% of the working population in Peru.

►Read also: Peru: concern after the adoption of a law protecting the police and the military

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• Peru
• Economy
• Coronavirus

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