The Peruvian government has issued a decree establishing compensable non‑working days for employees in the public and private sectors in preparation for the visit of Pope Francis (León XIV) to the country. The decree was published on Friday, 23 October, in the official gazette El Peruano and was issued by the Ministry of Labor and Employment (MTPE). ### Scope of the measure The non‑working days apply to the regions that will be part of the Pope’s itinerary: Lima, Callao, Cajamarca, La Libertad, Lambayeque, Piura, Cusco and Ucayali. The dates and hours differ by region and by sector. #### Public sector Lima and Callao – 11 and 12 November from 1:00 p.m. to midnight, and 16 November for the entire day. Cajamarca, La Libertad, Lambayeque and Piura – 13 and 14 November for the whole day. Employees who lose work hours must recover them within ten days after the non‑working day, unless a specific entity sets a different period. #### Private sector The same dates apply to private‑sector workers, with the addition of two extra days for certain regions: Cusco – 15 November (private sector only) for the entire day. Ucayali – 15 November (private sector only) for the entire day. Private‑sector employers and employees are required to coordinate the adoption of the non‑working days and the compensation of lost hours. If no agreement is reached, the employer will decide. ### Exemptions The decree allows certain essential services to continue operating on the designated non‑working days. These include health and sanitation services, supply of electricity, water, gas and fuel, telecommunications, land, sea and air transport, port and airport operations, funeral services, security and surveillance, financial institutions, value transfer, lodging and restaurants, and businesses selling food and other essential goods. The measure aims to facilitate citizen participation in the Pope’s scheduled activities and to ensure safe and orderly movement of the public during his visit.
Article source: El Comercio | Image credit: El Comercio