Workers at Peru’s Hialpesa textile factory have reason to cheer as recently-dismissed union leaders have been reinstated, marking a significant victory for the labor union after an arduous four-year battle.
On August 28th, leaders who had been ousted by Hialpesa, a textile and garment giant known for its substantial profits, were officially brought back into the fold. The Federation of Textile Workers of Peru (FNTTP), an affiliate of IndustriALL, organized a spirited rally at the company to show solidarity with the Hialpesa union.
The roots of this conflict trace back to 2019 when Hialpesa announced the termination of 190 employees, citing economic, technological, structural, and various other justifications. Among those affected, 95 were members of the Hialpesa union, and eight held leadership positions within the union.
Hialpesa submitted its request for these collective layoffs to the Labor Ministry, which held the authority to assess and authorize the dismissals. Over the subsequent four years, the Hialpesa union, in conjunction with FNTTP, conducted marches, protests, and even cookouts outside the Labor Ministry in an unwavering campaign to safeguard workers’ rights.
Gerardo Olortegui Sifuentes, the organizing secretary of FNTTP, expressed his sentiments, stating:
“In June 2019, the company initiated collective layoffs with the aim of dismantling the union. This year and last year, more than 20 workers have been reinstated by court order, and just last week, seven union leaders were reinstated. This is a momentous achievement for FNTTP after our protracted struggle to protect workers’ rights. Nonetheless, the battle continues as proceedings are ongoing for over 70 workers. We’ve held protests at the Supreme Court to expedite the proceedings, as the judicial process is taking an inordinate amount of time. We firmly believe that justice delayed is justice denied.”
The crux of the issue lies in the prevalence of exploitative employment practices in Peru, particularly through outsourcing and temporary contracts, which enable companies to evade their responsibilities towards workers. Legislative Decree No. 728 allows companies to hire individuals on a temporary basis, and under Legislative Decree No. 22342, pertaining to “non-traditional exports,” employers can subject workers to perpetual probationary periods.
Earlier this year, IndustriALL brought to the attention of the International Labour Organization (ILO) Committee on the Application of Standards that Peru’s legislation does not align with ILO conventions, which hold binding international status, and that there is a stark deficiency in enforcing the country’s labor laws.
Marino Vani, the regional secretary of IndustriALL, had this to say:
“We call upon the Peruvian government, parliament, and businesses to harmonize their legislation and practices with international standards, thereby strengthening collective bargaining, promoting decent work, and upholding the right to freedom of association. We commend the FNTPP leadership for their unwavering dedication to defending and organizing workers, despite being hindered by laws and governmental decrees. The struggle persists!”
source: Industriall Global Union
