Unions say Peru Strikes Could Force Changes to Law

Peru's largest federation of mining unions said early on Monday that a nationwide strike has started to pressure Congress to pass a bill that would improve labour benefits.

It was not immediately clear what effect the strike will have on production in Peru, the world's leading silver producer and second-largest copper and zinc miner, as shifts will be turning over at mines in the coming hours.

"The strike began at midnight (05.00 GMT) and at eight or nine in the morning, we will start to receive reports from each mine to see the impact of our protest," Julio Ortiz, sub-secretary of the country's leading federation of mining unions told Reuters in a telephone conversation.

By Teresa Cespedes, Reuters