Peru president vows tougher sanctions for labor accidents after McDonald's deaths

Arcos Dorados Holdings

19/12/2019 18:40

By Marco Aquino
    Lima, Dec 19 (Reuters) - Peru's President Martin Vizcarra
said he will seek to strengthen labor laws to take more
"concrete action" against companies involved in workplace
accidents after two teenaged employees died in a McDonald's Corp
 MCD.N  franchise at the weekend.
    Vizcarra said in comments reported on local television that
current fines for such accidents appeared to be "insufficient."
    "We can't allow for these kind of accidents to happen and
for there to be no comeback other than a fine," he said. "If the
law is insufficient for these cases, we have to correct it."    
    All 29 McDonald's restaurants in Peru are closed while the
fast-food chain's local operator, Arcos Dorados Holdings Inc
 ARCO.N , completes inspections following the deaths on Sunday
of Alexandra Porras, 18, and Carlos Campo, 19.
    Police said they were electrocuted in Pueblo Libre, a
district of the capital, while cleaning the kitchen. The
incident spurred local protests against McDonald's and claims on
social media, by people who said they had worked for the chain,
of unsafe working conditions, low wages and unpaid work.
    Arcos Dorados said in a statement that it was "deeply
saddened" by the employees' deaths and was fully cooperating
with local authorities.
    The company added in an email that it paid "competitive"
salaries, took seriously concerns raised about working
conditions and that workers' shifts never exceed eight hours and
included an additional break time of one hour.

 (Reporting by Marco Aquino; Writing by Aislinn Laing; Editing
by Richard Chang)
 ((Aislinn.Laing@thomsonreuters.com; +56 223704250;))