🇵🇪

Peru

Employment Guide & Cultural Intelligence

Overview

Capital Lima
Currency PEN
Language Spanish
Time Zone UTC-5
GDP per Capita $7,100
Work Week 48 hours

Employment Basics

Standard Work Week 48 hours
Notice Period 6 days for resignation; cause required for dismissal
Probation Period 3 months
Overtime Rules 25% first 2 hrs, 35% additional; weekends/holidays double
Termination Rules Cause required; severance 1.5 months per year (capped)
Minimum Wage PEN 1,025/mo (~€255) (2024)

Statutory Benefits

30
Annual Leave Days
16
Public Holidays
46
Total Paid Days Off
Parental Leave 98 days maternity (full pay)
Sick Leave Days 1-20 by employer, then social security (EsSalud)

Employer Cost Summary

9%
Employer Tax/Contribution Rate
Mandatory Insurance EsSalud health (9% employer), private/public pension (employee)
Retirement/Pension ONP (public) or AFP (private) pension; statutory age 65
Healthcare EsSalud + private (EPS) + employer top-up common

Cultural Intelligence

Communication Style

Polite, indirect, relationship-driven; titles matter

Hierarchy

Hierarchical; respect for elders and titles

Meeting Norms

Time flexible; relationships precede business; long lunches common

Negotiation Approach

Patient; relationship-based; multiple meetings expected

Gift Giving

Welcome; quality items; flowers (avoid lilies — funerals)

Taboos

Avoid Chilean War of the Pacific sensitivities; respect indigenous cultures

Hiring Tips

1 CTS (Compensation for Time of Service) is mandatory deferred salary deposit
2 14 monthly salaries: 12 + Fiestas Patrias (July) + Christmas
3 Mining sector dominates corporate landscape
4 Lima concentrates most B2B activity
5 Spanish is essential — English limited outside MNCs
Quick Facts
  • Work Week 48 hrs
  • Annual Leave 30 days
  • Public Holidays 16
  • Employer Burden 9%
  • Probation 3 months
  • Currency PEN
Calculate Hiring Cost All Country Guides