The subtitle to this book (“Manual práctico de leyes, decretos, resoluciones vigentes sobre trabajo que Atañe a los empleados, obreros e industriales”) rather specifically delineates the contents as well as the sources of Peruvian labor law, for this is a compilation of all legal enactments currently in force. As such, several aspects stand out: the high percentage of decree-laws, indicating the close involvement of the executive branch of government with labor matters; the great amount of labor law which has developed since the Second World War; the distinction drawn between obreros, or manual workers, and empleados, or white-collar employees; and the pervasiveness of the content of labor law, directing itself to countless questions from who can and can not form unions down to the maximum loaded weight of sacks carried by workers.
Although there often is a gap between the law and actual practice in Latin America, this compilation is an excellent aid to understanding the intent of Peruvian labor law and much of the practice. Alphabetically- and chronologically-arranged indices enhance its utility.
