The Labor Department is raising significant concerns about the ability of Peruvian textile, apparel and agricultural workers to freely organize in a report released Friday. The report is a response to a complaint filed last year by Peruvian labor unions, which have accused their government of failing to comply with labor standards established under a 2009 trade agreement with the United States.
The unions said in their complaint that a Peruvian law violates international standards on the right to organize by allowing employers to continue to hire non-traditional export sector workers on unlimited temporary contracts - some as short as 15 days - which creates an environment where employees are reluctant to organize labor unions or demand certain rights.
