Peruvian National Agrarian Health Service continues to work despite strike

Since Monday, June 24, workers from Arequipa and other regions have been on an indefinite strike against the Peruvian National Service for Agricultural Health (SENASA), citing unmet demands for a salary increase that has been pending for 14 years.

SENASA has responded by ensuring the continuation of its services in its 25 Executive Directorates and various service centers throughout the country, placing emphasis on ongoing dialogue and collaboration to recognize the commitment of its employees to agricultural health.

Although the Labor Administration declared the strike declaration inadmissible with Directorate General Order No. 000133-2024-MTPE/2/14 of June 12, 2024, SENASA continues to hope for a solution through continued dialogue.

In a press conference following the Council of Ministers on June 26, Peru’s Minister of Agrarian Development and Irrigation, Ángel Manero, announced that a salary increase of 165 soles and an extraordinary bonus would be included in the 2025 budget to meet the demands of SENASA workers.

Threat to the agricultural sector and food security

In response to the strike, the Association of Peruvian Agricultural Producers Guilds (AGAP) stated that neglecting SENASA’s needs represents a threat to the agricultural sector and food security.

“The government must act immediately to resolve the problems arising in this strategic agency for the Peruvian agricultural sector,” the company said in a statement.

“The Peruvian agricultural sector, which supplies more than 33 million inhabitants and exports to over 140 countries, is seriously damaged by the current crisis, the result of years of neglect of one of the most important institutions for its development, which oversees the health of agriculture, namely SENASA,” added AGAP.

The association considers that the strike is a consequence of the precarious work system in the public sector and the neglect of the institution and its workers by the authorities. It also reflects the lack of priority given to the needs of this institution, which is so important for Peruvian agriculture.

“Despite the important role that SENASA plays in the growth and development of the agricultural sector, the latter is weakened, which puts its activities at risk and affects pest control, agricultural export programs, import control, plant and animal disease control, etc. throughout the national territory,” AGAP said.

For this reason, AGAP called on the government to act immediately to resolve the structural problems of the institution and “promote its development and modernization, strengthening it so that it can continue to promote the progress of the Peruvian agricultural sector.”