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16 May, 2012
The ICEM-affiliated Peruvian Federation of Mine and Metal Workers, FNTMMSP, achieved a significant legislative victory on 12 May that creates a pension fund for miners, funded by corporate profits and worker contributions.
The law had been passed by the country’s Senate nine months ago, but the government had not approved regulations for its implementation until now, two days prior to a planned two-day national strike.
FNTMMSP General Secretary Luis Castillo announced the victory and called off the strike. The 75,000-member FNTMMSP had led the campaign for the last four years, against strong conservative forces in government and industry. The four-year campaign has included numerous mobilisations, marches, and three national strikes.
Supreme Decree DS 006-2012-TR sets out that the fund will be funded with 0.5% of the corporate annual income of the mining, metal, steel industries, plus 0.5% workers’ monthly gross salaries. The benefits cannot be used for any other benefit than miners’ pensions.
FNTMMSP reports that the primary beneficiaries of the new law will be mine and metal workers from both primary employers and outsourced contractors.
The mineworkers’ struggle now continues in other areas, including modification of the legislation on utilities.
Peru is the world’s second largest producer of copper and silver, and is a major producer of gold, zinc, and tin. A massive 60% of the country’s export revenue comes from mining.