The definition includes all payments made on a permanent basis received in the reference period. Payments for extra hours worked and commissions are included in earnings. The data is compiled before any deductions such as income tax, pensions or loans are made. The number of hours worked corresponds to hours effectively worked.
Coverage is restricted to enterprises with workers under private regime.
Public administration and public organizations are excluded. Before 1996, only Metropolitan Lima was covered. The data cover establishments with more than 10 workers. Salaries and wages correspond only to formal enterprises because the survey is based on the registry of firms held by the Ministry of Labor. Persons included in the survey are salaried workers with private labor regime registered in payrolls.