Reuters reported that a nationwide strike by Peruvian miners drew limited support as laborers stayed on the job at key copper and gold mines, even as they demanded the government pass laws to improve benefits.

Union leaders said that the walkout hit mines of Buenaventura, Barrick and Volcan but those of global heavyweights such as Southern Copper, Freeport, BHP Billiton and Newmont operated normally.

Mr Luis Castillo director of the mining federation said that "The strike is for better benefits, on retirement ages and profit sharing which we've been demanding for 3 years and so far we've got nothing."

Peru is a leading global minerals exporter and the national federation of mining unions is upset that President Mr Alan Garcia rejected a law, passed by Congress, to lower the age for retirement. Private sector pension funds would have had to pay out millions of dollars in extra benefits if Garcia had signed the law. Workers also want Congress to throw out a rule that limits the amount they can earn from profits that are distributed to them by companies. Currently, the ceiling is 18 monthly salaries but during the latest boom the miners said that they should have received more.

(Sourced from Reuters)