Tuesday, 02 January 2024 12:17 GMT

Life for Peru’s Informal Workers Shows Struggles


(MENAFN) Far from the corridors of power in Peru’s capital, Lima, Emerita Napo perches on a plastic stool selling cigarettes and sweets in the sweltering Amazonian city of Yurimaguas.

Like millions of Peruvians engaged in the informal sector, the 52-year-old street vendor and mother relies on small daily loans from unlicensed moneylenders to keep her kiosk supplied.

“If I don’t borrow, I can’t work. There’s so much corruption in Peru,” she explained.

Napo’s hardships reflect a nationwide reality, where seven out of ten Peruvians hold informal jobs with no contracts, benefits, or social protections.

“We’re completely ignored out here. We need a leader who governs for the people in the provinces. The way things are in Lima right now, we hardly even know who’s running the country,” she said.

A few blocks away, in Yurimaguas’ vibrant market, Gilmer Lingan measures bags of dried beans, grains, and spices at his stall.

“I live hand to mouth, working to feed my family. Out here, we suffer because our politicians in Lima don’t represent us,” said Lingan, 60. “Our only hope is to kick out this corrupt congress,” he added.

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