The week long national strike by Peruvian mine workers was officially called off on Sunday, with many having already returned to work late last week. “The mining federation has handed in a document saying they will be lifting the strike tonight,” Vice Minister Jorge Villasante told Reuters. He met with union leaders on Sunday to try to forge an agreement to end the walkout, which included a promise that the government would lower minimum retirement ages for mine workers.
The strike had been called to support demands that Peru’s Congress pass a bill that would lift caps on profit-sharing. Unions also wanted a shorter work day and improved retirement rules. However the labour ministry claimed that only ten per cent of mine workers had joined the strike and by Thursday support had waned further after the government declared it illegal. Minsur’s San Rafael tin mine and Funsur smelter were two of the operations temporarily affected by the action
