Friday
Friday 18th July 2025.
July 17, 2025
The Minister of Labor and Workforce Development, Jackeline Muñoz, announced on the afternoon of Thursday, July 17, that she has filed a lawsuit seeking the dissolution of the National Union of Construction and Related Workers (Suntracs).
He explained that the case now goes to court and the measure was taken in defense of the workers.
“This decision is the result of a rigorous legal and technical analysis, based on current labor legislation and in defense of the general interest of the country’s workers,” he said.
Muñoz indicated that the lawsuit is based on Article 392 of the Labor Code , and said it responds to multiple complaints and facts that demonstrate how, under the guise of a union organization, repeated acts of extortion, violence, fraud, abuse of power, and misuse of resources have been committed.
“Suntracs extorts workers. Suntracs defrauded workers. It has ties to money laundering…” he asserted.
The minister emphasized that this action does not constitute an attack on unionism or freedom of association. She also noted that there are some 17 construction unions that have not had the opportunity to participate in projects.
Chiquita Panama LLC and Ilara Holding INC announced that the employment relationship of the 1,189 daily employees who had a current employment relationship with the companies will be terminated as of July 18, 2025.
Through a statement issued on the afternoon of Thursday, July 17, the company explained that due to resolutions No. DM-127-2025 of July 10, 2025 and No. DM-128-2025 of July 10, 2025 issued by the Ministry of Labor and Labor Development (Mitradel), dismissal for economic reasons is authorized as established in article 213, section C) of the Labor Code.
“We reiterate that this decision has been duly authorized by the Ministry of Trade and Industry, complying with all established legal requirements,” the banana company stated.
Beginning July 28, 2025, and continuing through July 31, 2025, the designated individuals may visit Chiquita’s offices located in Empalme, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., to collect their respective benefits and termination documents.
It has been confirmed that these layoffs will leave no active Chiquita workers, following the more than 50-day protests in Bocas del Toro, which paralyzed banana exports.
These 1,189 workers are understood to be part of the group of collaborators who, at the time of the work stoppage at the farms and operating plants, were on leave due to pregnancy, illness, or vacation.
The news comes after a massive wave of layoffs the company carried out in May, when approximately 5,000 employees were laid off from a total workforce of just over 6,000.
This drastic decision was made amid a prolonged strike that paralyzed operations at the company’s banana farms.
According to the company’s May 22 report, the layoffs were concentrated mainly in the province of Bocas del Toro, where hundreds of workers stopped reporting to work at the end of April.
The company described this action as “unjustified dereliction of duty” and argued that such conduct violated current employment terms, which led to its decision to terminate the strikers’ contracts.
The Superior Court of Appeals is holding three hearings this Thursday related to the proceedings against Bernardo Meneses, the former director of the Institute for the Training and Utilization of Human Resources (Ifarhu) . These proceedings will discuss the precautionary measures imposed on charges of embezzlement, money laundering, and unjust enrichment.
Meneses appealed the preventive detention measure imposed on him by a judge on June 8, which has kept him detained at the headquarters of the Judicial Investigation Directorate (DIJ) in Ancón ever since.
The first hearing, scheduled to begin at 8:00 a.m., began almost an hour late due to connection issues for Meneses, who appeared virtually. The Court decided to maintain the precautionary measures of periodic reporting on the 15th and 30th of each month, a ban on leaving the country, and a ban on approaching the Ifarhu facilities.
In this case, prosecutor Azucena Aizprúa requested preventive detention for the alleged mishandling of financial aid, which allegedly caused financial losses to the State estimated at $24 million.
The second hearing began at 10:37 a.m. and addressed the Public Prosecutor’s Office’s request to revoke the current precautionary measures—periodic reporting and a ban on leaving the country—in the money laundering case against Meneses. However, the Court of Appeals judges upheld the measures.
The third hearing is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. this Thursday and was requested by Meneses’s defense team to request a change from provisional detention to a less severe measure in the case related to alleged unjustified enrichment.
In the two hearings held so far, Meneses stated that he has attended all the summonses issued by the Prosecutor’s Office and asserted that he has no intention of evading the judicial process.
The Chinese government is reportedly threatening to block the deal that would transfer management of more than 40 seaports, including two located along the Panama Canal, currently operated by CK Hutchison , The Wall Street Journal reported Thursday, July 17 .
This is the sales agreement reached last March by the Hong Kong company CK Hutchison with the American consortium BlackRock .
According to the specialized media, citing sources close to the negotiations, China is conditioning its endorsement of the port deal if Cosco, its largest state-owned shipping company , does not obtain a stake in the operation.
Since the initial agreement was confirmed, for an amount close to $23 billion, it has been announced that BlackRock will acquire 80% of CK Hutchison Holdings Ltd., a company that operates more than 43 ports in 23 countries.
Among these ports are two in Panama: Balboa and Cristobal , which are operated by Panama Ports Company .
CK Hutchison is headquartered in Hong Kong, China, and since the initial agreement became known, the Chinese government has expressed its opposition. It also indicated that it would review the transaction in accordance with the law.
According to The Wall Street Journal , Chinese authorities are demanding that Cosco be an equal partner and shareholder in the acquiring group.
It is also noted that BlackRock and its partner Mediterranean Shipping Co (MSC), and Hutchison, have already expressed a willingness to consider Cosco’s entry . The only obstacle for now is an exclusivity agreement between the parties, valid until July 27, which does not allow any participation to be formalized until that period concludes.
The inclusion of Cosco, a Chinese state-owned company, in the transaction could upset U.S. President Donald Trump , who since December 2024 has questioned alleged Chinese influence in Panama, particularly in the administration of the Panama Canal and ports near the waterway.
According to The Wall Street Journal , the White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment on China’s demand that Cosco become a BlackRock partner.
The news report also notes that CK Hutchison’s original plan to sell the ports was met with discontent by Beijing.
Danish shipping company AP Moller-Maersk officially opened a new logistics center in the Panama Pacific Special Economic Zone, consolidating its commitment to the country as a strategic hub for regional distribution.
With an area of over 20,000 square meters, this facility is designed to function as a centralized distribution center connecting Latin America, North America, and Asia.
“ Panama is not only our operational hub for the Caribbean, but also the starting point for a new phase of growth ,” said Efraín Osorio , managing director for Central America, Andean countries and the Caribbean at Maersk.
The company reaffirmed its commitment to Panama, a country where it has operated for more than a century.
The first transit of a Maersk vessel through the Canal was in 1917, followed by the first liner transit in 1928 and the first container ship in 1975.
The company explained that the center is integrated into Maersk’s global logistics network and offers ocean, land, and air connectivity. It is equipped with a warehouse management system that provides real-time inventory visibility and is ready to integrate with customer systems.
Its main features include a height of 11.5 meters, more than 10,000 rack storage positions, and a total storage capacity exceeding 17,000 positions across bins, racks, and the floor. In addition, the facility offers value-added services such as labeling, repackaging, quality control, and returns management.
According to John Carmichael, Maersk’s sales director for Central America, Andean and the Caribbean, “this facility gives our customers the power to make Panama a strategic hub for transshipment, distribution, and growth.”
He added that the location allows for streamlining customs processes and centralizing operations, which translates into greater efficiency and lower costs for companies.
Panama now has the Panamanian Sports Hall of Fame and Museum , an unprecedented space that will bring together athletes and the most glorious moments of national sport.
The opening was attended by Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino , historic athletes, and authorities, in an event that marks the beginning of a new chapter to preserve and enhance the country’s sporting legacy.
“We’ve made history. It’s been a pleasure. It puts us in an important place as a country,” Mulino said, through tears of emotion.
This facility, located in the capital city, was designed to pay tribute to the great Panamanian athletes who have left an indelible mark on the history of national and international sport. For the first time, the museum brings together a visual and informative timeline of the most iconic moments that have shaped generations.
Among the athletes and coaches present were Felipe Baloy, Gary Stempel, Julio César Dely Valdés, Michael Hicks, Adolfo Machado, Gaby Torres, Rolando Frazier, Irving Saladino, Said Gómez, Jaime Penedo, Juan Ramón Solís and Laffit Pincay, who brought glory and success to these facilities.
“Justice was done for the Panamanian Sports Museum,” said Saladino , winner of the gold medal in the long jump at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.
The museum features interactive exhibits, displays of historical artifacts—including gloves, medals, uniforms, and photographs—and an audiovisual tour chronicling the achievements and challenges of figures such as Mariano Rivera, Atheyna Bylon, Lloyd LaBeach , and others.
“This is the pinnacle of our sports administration,” said Miguel Ordóñez, director of the Panamanian Sports Institute (Pandeportes).
“Museums are reminders of great works. This museum represents much more; it’s a tribute to our national sport,” he added.
In addition, the space has been designed as an educational center, with areas for students, visitors, and sports enthusiasts who wish to learn more about the paths taken by national icons.
With this inauguration, the country sets a precedent in preserving its sporting history and sends a clear message about the importance of valuing those who have elevated Panama’s reputation beyond its borders.