Peruvian prosecutor investigating deaths of two McDonald's employees (updated)

Arcos Dorados Holdings

18/12/2019 16:39

(Recasts with probe, adds details, comments from officials)
    By Marco Aquino
    LIMA, Dec 18 (Reuters) - A Peruvian prosecutor's office said
it was investigating the death of two teenaged employees in a
McDonald's-branded restaurant in Lima, in an incident that has
spurred protests against the fast-food giant in the South
American nation.
    The employees, Alexandra Porras, 18, and Carlos Campo, 19,
were electrocuted on Sunday in Pueblo Libre, a district of the
capital, while cleaning the kitchen, police said. 
    Arcos Dorados Holdings Inc  ARCO.N , which owns and operates
McDonald's restaurants in Peru and elsewhere in Latin America as
an independent franchisor, released a statement on Twitter
saying it was cooperating with authorities in the investigation.
    It said it had shut all its outlets in the country for two
days for mourning and that all staff would be paid during the
closure.
    The U.S.-based McDonald's Corp  MCD.N  said in a statement
that it was "profoundly saddened by the tragic accident that
occurred at a McDonald's-franchised restaurant in Peru." It said
it was working with its local partner that was conducting "a
thorough investigation with local authorities."
    Local police and a Lima-based prosecutor are investigating
the incident, the police and prosecutor's office said. 
    The Peruvian Ministry of Labor said it would also carry out
an investigation.
    The Peruvian prosecutor's office said that the police
investigation would include taking statements from restaurant
owners and employees and that the restaurant's security and
safety measures would be examined. 
    At least 20 people in the residential area of Miraflores
held a protest on Tuesday night outside a different McDonald's
location, in response to the employees' deaths, calling for
better working conditions. 
    At least two young people who said they have worked for the
chain in Peru have taken to social media since Sunday to share
experiences of unsafe working conditions, low wages and unpaid
work.
    Media representatives for McDonald's and Arcos Dorados did
not immediately respond to requests for comment about those
accusations. 
    "We are outraged. We are citizens concerned about this
situation of job insecurity. We believe it is important to call
attention to working conditions to claim what is fair," Luis
Chuecca, a protester, told Reuters during the demonstration.
    

 (Reporting by Marco Aquino; Writing by Cassandra Garrison and
Peter Graff. Editing by Carmel Crimmins and Rosalba O'Brien)
 ((peter.graff@thomsonreuters.com;))