Peruvian government acknowledges that 76.8% of the nation’s workforce operates in the informal sector

The Labor Minister of Peru, Fernando Varela, confirmed on Tuesday that a significant 76.8% of the nation’s working population is engaged in informal employment, which is not regulated by the official economy.

In light of this, the government will unveil a comprehensive three-phase strategy to address the issue.

Varela commented, “Our current official figures indicate that the rate of informal employment stands at 76.8% of the economically active population.”

He mentioned that a detailed plan to counter this challenge is in its final stages of preparation.

This plan, formulated in coordination with the Deputy Ministry of Labor and other relevant sectors, aims to substantially lower these figures.

The National Superintendency of Labor Inspection (Sunafil) plays a pivotal role in combating informal employment.

To amplify their efforts, the ministry plans to deploy an additional 200 labor inspectors next year and is committed to continually bolstering this workforce.

An overhaul of the current inspection processes is also on the cards to enhance efficiency.

Recent data from the National Continuous Employment Survey (EPEN) revealed that out of the 17,319,900 employed individuals in Peru between April 2022 and March 2023, a staggering 73.5% were informally employed.

This means they work outside of national legal frameworks, lack social protection, and do not benefit from employment-related perks.

The report further highlights a gender disparity, with 76% of employed women working in informal roles compared to 71.4% of their male counterparts.

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