Peru construction workers plan national mobilization for wage increases

Construction workers in Peru are preparing for a national mobilization to present the 2027 National Claims Sheet (Pliego Nacional de Reclamos 2027). The movement, led by the Federation of Construction Civil Workers of Peru (FTCCP), aims to negotiate salary increases and improved labor conditions for the upcoming year.

In Arequipa, the local construction workers' union (STCCA) has joined the national call, expecting between 20,000 and 25,000 participants. Union leader Lugue Espinoza criticized the government's announced S/ 100 increase—set to raise the minimum wage from S/ 1,130 to S/ 1,230 in October 2026—as insufficient to cover the cost of living. The union is proposing a differentiated increase: S/ 10 for operators, S/ 9 for officials, and S/ 8 for laborers.

The FTCCP intends to present these demands to the Ministry of Labor, which will then facilitate negotiations with the Peruvian Chamber of Construction (CAPECO). The union highlighted that through collective bargaining, they have achieved a 27% cumulative increase in basic daily wages since the pandemic and have increased the number of workers on official payrolls from 90,000 to over 140,000.