Peru enacts law requiring seated breaks for standing workers

Peruvian workers who stand for three or more consecutive hours will now have the right to sit and alternate their posture during the workday, according to a new law published Wednesday.

Law No. 32721, published in the official gazette El Peruano, seeks to safeguard the health, dignity, and productivity of employees engaged in prolonged standing roles. It mandates that employers implement measures allowing workers to switch between standing and sitting without any deduction from their effective work time.

The legislation applies to all public and private workplaces where standing for extended periods is required. Key sectors prioritizing implementation include retail, hospitality, tourism, healthcare, financial services, and education. Employers are obligated to provide ergonomic chairs with back support and integrate these resting provisions into their internal safety and health regulations.

While the law ensures resting breaks, it clarifies that individual seating for every employee is not mandatory. Companies can establish proportional and rotating systems for seat usage. However, the obligation does not apply to jobs where standing is an inherent condition, such as certain industrial operations or active security roles where sitting might pose a safety risk. In such cases, employers must provide alternative measures.