Peru teachers hold national strike despite Ministry of Education warnings

Teachers in Peru, represented by the Unitary Union of Education Workers (Sutep), conducted a 24-hour national strike on October 29, 2026. The mobilization included marches in major cities such as Lima and Arequipa. The union is demanding increased education funding, specifically calling for the allocation of 6% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to the sector to address infrastructure, nutrition, and connectivity gaps. Other demands include salary increases, the fulfillment of collective bargaining agreements, and the regulation of pensions for retired teachers.

The Ministry of Education (Minedu) declared the strike unauthorized, citing that it failed to meet legal requirements and classifying the absence of staff as an illegal interruption of an essential public service. Consequently, the Ministry announced it would apply salary deductions to participating teachers and evaluate administrative responsibilities. Sutep leadership has warned that the movement could escalate into a broader national strike if the government does not provide concrete responses to their budgetary and labor demands.