The electoral context increases the proliferation of populist measures from the Congress That, far from benefiting the population, they end up aggravating their situation.
This is the case of bill 3032, 7386 and 7487, which propose to raise the contributions that fishing for the special regime of Social Security of workers and pensioners of the sector. Although at first glance these initiatives may seem favorable for this group, in practice they only imply a greater expense for companies and, therefore, a reduction in the profits they distribute.
Jessica Luna, president of the National Fishery Society (SNP), estimated that the measure would subdue around S/30 million in profits from workers in the sector. “This would affect fleet crew, administrative employees and administrative employees,” he warned.
The initiatives propose to raise the contribution rate for fishermen’s pension, in charge of companies, from 5% to 8%. They also increase the contribution of fishing to the extraordinary fisherman (FEP), which would go from S/3.92 to US $ 1.4 per metric ton (TM) of extracted hydrobiological resources. To this are added three new contributions: US $ 1.95 for each TM of discharged fish; 0.75% of the FOB price per TM of fishmeal, and 0.25% of the FOB price per TM of fish oil.
Even proposals are inequitable. Although there are more fishing workers affiliated with AFPs (35,425) than to the special pension regime (REP) administered by the ONP (13,388), the additional funds that are intended to collect from the companies will be directed only to the Rep. That is, in practice, the profits of all workers are reduced, but the pension benefit reaches only one part of them.
The most controversial thing is that none of the congressmen authors of the initiative have considered the real problem of the sector. If they have done so, they would have warned that the norm does not raise the level of fishermen’s pensions, but cuts their income in the present.
Does not increase pensions
One of the main factors that limits the access of fishing workers to better pensions in the REP is their low coverage and the reduced contribution level. A recent study by the International Labor Organization (ILO) revealed that, of the 133,843 people who worked in the sector in 2022, only 37% were affiliated with a pension system. And within the REP, just 60% of the affiliates made contributions on a regular basis.
As a consequence, according to ONP figures, only 55% of the pension forms of this regime are financed with the collection of workers’ contributions. The most critical thing is that, while the number of REP pensioners grows at two -digit rates, the number of affiliates decreases.
For former economy minister David Tuesta, if Congress’ concern is really that pensions in the sector are low, the answer should be to design a scheme that allows workers to contribute more or, failing that, consider the role of the State. He recalled that the State already fulfills a subsidiary function in pension matters, since there is a system in which a minimum pension is granted when the contributions are insufficient. In that line, he stated that what corresponds is to integrate fishery workers into said system.
In addition, he warned that it should be avoided affecting the competitiveness of companies, which are the source of resources. “What they do norms such as these is to discourage long -term investment, because they introduce an element of uncertainty that was not in the radar and alters future decisions,” he concluded.
Rosselli Amuruz promotes Norma
In the last Board of Spokespersons, Congresswoman Rosselli Amuruz requested the prioritization of bill 3032, 7386 and 7487, which propose to raise the contributions of fishing companies to the Special Social Security Regime of Workers and Pensioners of the sector. The application generates questions, given that Amuruz’s husband, Paul García, is postulated to the mayor of Callao, where a support for this initiative could be used in the campaign, despite the serious economic implications that he would have for the industry.
It should be remembered that in the last legislature we had tried to bring these proposals to the Plenary through an exemption from the opinion of the Production Commission. However, five banks: Avanza country, honor and democracy, Popular Force, Alliance for Progress and Popular Action withdrew their support after warning the negative effects they implied for the sector.
Specialists also warn about the risk of a contagion effect: if this standard is approved, other workers’ unions could demand similar subsidies for their pension contributions.
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