Some of the largest food companies in Peru are using the COVID-19 crisis to impose 12-hour shifts, despite government regulations which establish an 8 PM to 5 AM curfew, limit the workweek to 48 hours and mandate negotiations on any changes to work practices. The IUF-affiliated Federation of Food Industry Workers (FNT-CGTP-ABA) is fighting back, and demands strict measures to protect wokrer health and safety.

In an interview [1] published by the IUF Latin American regional secretariat, union leaders named breakfast cereal maker Global Alimentos and bottler CBC among the companies which have announced they will impose 12-hour shifts. Packaging manufacturers San Miguel Industrias Pet informed the union general secretary that workers had to choose between losing their jobs or working the 12-hour shifts.

The union advocates suspension of non-essential food products and strict measures to respect physical distancing where production continues.