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Employment guide

Hire and pay employees
in Peru

Employment law, payroll compliance, taxes, benefits, and hiring requirements for Peru — curated and reviewed by Remote&.

Capital
Lima
Currency
Peruvian Sol (PEN)
Working Hours
8 hours/day or 48 hours/week maximum
Min. salary
PEN 1,130
01 — Country basics

Peru at a glance

Capital
Lima
Language
Spanish, Quechua, Aymara
Currency
Peruvian Sol (PEN)
Working Hours
8 hours/day or 48 hours/week maximum
Public Holidays
15 days per year
Minimum Salary
PEN 1,130
Tax Year
Jan 1 – Dec 31
Worker misclassification risk
Worker classification in Peru is governed by the subordination principle — if personal service, direction, and compensation are present, employment law applies. SUNAFIL (the labor inspection authority) may reclassify contractor relationships and impose back-payment of wages, social security contributions, and statutory benefits.
02 — Tax obligations

Taxes in Peru

Employer Contributions

Total employer contributions: ~9%

Contribution TypeRate
EsSalud (public health insurance)9%

Employers may offer private health insurance (EPS); up to 25% of EPS premiums can be credited against EsSalud contributions.

Employer contributions

Total employer contributions: ~9%

Contribution TypeRate
EsSalud (public health insurance)9%

Employers may offer private health insurance (EPS); up to 25% of EPS premiums can be credited against EsSalud contributions.

Employee contributions

Income tax: 8%–30% | Pension: ~10%–13%

Contribution TypeRate
Pension — National System (ONP)13%
Pension — Private System (AFP)~10%–13%
Income tax brackets
Annual Income (PEN)Rate
Up to 25,750 (5 UIT)8%
25,750 – 103,000 (5–20 UIT)14%
103,000 – 180,250 (20–35 UIT)17%
180,250 – 231,750 (35–45 UIT)20%
Over 231,750 (45+ UIT)30%

UIT (Unidad Impositiva Tributaria) is the reference unit updated annually by the government.

03 — Remote& EOR

Employer of Record in Peru

How Remote& EOR Works

Remote& acts as the legal employer of your Peruvian workers — managing EsSalud contributions, AFP/ONP pension enrollments, payroll, tax filings, and employment contracts while you direct the work.

PartyRole
Your CompanyManages work tasks, performance, and team direction
Remote&Runs payroll, files EsSalud/AFP/income tax, administers mandatory benefits, ensures Labour Code compliance
EmployeeWorks for your company under a locally compliant Peruvian contract

Ask Remi:

"Hire a DevOps engineer in Lima — PEN 12,000/month, starting next quarter" Remi handles everything: contract, SUNAT registration, EsSalud enrollment, AFP setup, and payroll including 13th and 14th month salary.
04 — What employees receive

Benefits in Peru

Statutory
  • EsSalud (public health insurance): Mandatory — employer contributes 9% of gross salary
  • 13th-month salary (Gratificación de Fiestas Patrias): One month's salary paid in July
  • 14th-month salary (Gratificación de Navidad): One month's salary paid in December
  • CTS (Compensación por Tiempo de Servicios): Severance fund — employer deposits approximately one month's salary twice per year into a regulated bank account in the employee's name
Common additional
  • Private health insurance (EPS)
  • Performance bonuses
  • Education allowance and development budget
  • Flexible working arrangements
  • Extra vacation days
  • Wellness programs
  • Additional parental leave
05 — Time away from work

Leave entitlements

Leave typeEntitlement
Paid Annual Leave30 calendar days
Sick Leave365 days (first 20 days paid by employer; days 21–365 covered by EsSalud)
Maternity Leave98 days (49 before, 49 after birth); 30 additional days for multiple births, premature birth, or disabled child
Paternity Leave10 calendar days; up to 30 additional days for premature birth, multiple births, or severe disability
06 — Contracts & rights

Employment conditions

Probation

Probation cannot exceed 3 months for standard employees or 6 months for executive roles.

Trade Unions

Article 28 of Peru's Constitution guarantees workers the right to form and join trade unions, engage in collective bargaining, and strike. Unionization is constitutionally protected.

Employee Rights & Protections

Peruvian workers are entitled to: written employment contract, minimum wage compliance, equal pay, 13th and 14th month salary, anti-discrimination and anti-harassment protection, trade union rights, safe working conditions, and social media and data privacy protections.

07 — Payroll cadence

Payments

Payment frequency
Monthly
Payday
Last week of the month (specific date set in the employment contract).
08 — Off-boarding

End of employment in Peru

Employers may terminate employment for valid legal reasons or during probation. Dismissal without just cause (despido arbitrario) triggers severance obligations.

Unfair dismissal severance: 1.5 monthly salaries per year of service (prorated), capped at 12 months' salary, plus:

  • Unused vacation pay
  • Proportional 13th and 14th month bonuses
  • CTS balance
09 — Common questions

Frequently asked questions

Four paths: run payroll from HQ for short-term arrangements; engage genuine independent contractors for project-based work; establish a Peruvian entity for direct employment; or use Remote& as Employer of Record — the fastest compliant path without a local company.

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