News
Tuesday 27th May 2025.
May 26, 2025
Following an appeal filed by the Banana Industry and Related Companies Workers Union (Sitraibana) , seeking to overturn the court ruling that declared the strike that began on April 28 in Bocas del Toro illegal, the case now enters a new procedural phase.
The file will be forwarded to the Superior Labor Court , the body responsible for evaluating the admissibility of the appeal. Once received, the court will enter into permanent session to analyze the arguments, in a procedure that, according to judicial sources, is usually resolved within no more than 48 hours.
Although the timing depends on when the file is transferred, everything indicates that the hearing could be held this week, according to sources consulted. The second-instance ruling will be key in defining the outcome of the labor dispute affecting dozens of banana workers in the region and which has generated tensions between the union, the company, and the authorities.
In fact, the Chiquita Panama company has initiated a labor liquidation process affecting approximately 5,000 workers. This process is in response to the termination of employment contracts after the court declared the banana sector strike illegal.
Meanwhile, Sitraibana maintains his stance, arguing that the strike is a response to unmet demands related to working conditions and acquired rights.
On May 21, Sitraibana appealed the decision declaring the union’s strike, which has been ongoing since April 28 in Bocas del Toro, illegal.
Sources confirmed to La Prensa that the union filed an appeal after the Fifth Section Labor Court of Changuinola, Bocas del Toro, declared the strike illegal on Friday, May 16.
Banana workers, along with teachers and construction workers, continue to protest in Bocas del Toro, and at least 20 roads have been blocked in Changuinola and surrounding towns such as Almirante and Rambala.
The workers are protesting their dissatisfaction with Law 45, which regulates the sector’s pension system, and Law 462, which reforms the structure of the Social Security Fund.
Chiquita Panama announced this Monday, May 26, that it will suspend its planting, packing, banana export, and administrative operations in Bocas del Toro until further notice.
The company attributes the decision to what it describes as an “unjustified stoppage” and the “total abandonment” of the farms since April 28, when a strike began that has affected production in the region.
According to the company, the situation constitutes a force majeure event beyond its control.
Chiquita reports losses exceeding $75 million due to the interruption of its production activities.
He also warned of the economic impact this represents for hundreds of families, local businesses, and other stakeholders in the value chain who depend on the stability of the banana industry in the area.
The Minister of Labor and Workforce Development, Jackeline Muñoz , confirmed that the Executive Branch will present this week to the National Assembly the update to Law 45, which regulates pensions and retirement benefits for banana workers.
“Yes, it’s a commitment from the president [José Raúl Mulino] . He gave his word, and that’s beyond question,” the minister said, reiterating that, although some sectors have not complied with the agreements, the government remains committed to the sector’s workers.
Asked about how this initiative would be included during the extraordinary sessions of the Assembly, Muñoz explained that the Executive branch will include it as an additional item on the legislative agenda. The minister also expressed her desire for workers to know “the truth about everything that happened at the meeting,” asserting that the union leadership rejected several viable offers, which has resulted in job losses.
Regarding the possibility of an agreement with Chiquita Panama, the minister stated that the government will seek to maintain dialogue to prevent the company from withdrawing from the country and, at the same time, explore the gradual hiring of new Panamanian personnel.
Muñoz announced that a government commission—composed of the ministers of Commerce, Agricultural Development, Tourism, and Health—will soon travel to Bocas del Toro. On Tuesday, the Cabinet Council will define the roadmap for this inter-institutional mission, which seeks to promote an economic rescue plan for a province hit hard by the labor conflict and structural deficiencies in services such as health.
The company warned that the work stoppage on the farms has generated economic losses exceeding $75 million, in addition to causing what it described as “irreversible” damage to national banana production.
Adding to this crisis is the complete suspension of shipments from the port of Almirante. Before the strike, two ships a week departed for Europe with around 400 containers each. After four weeks of inactivity, the total number of bananas has risen to approximately 1,600 containers that have not left the country.
The situation in Bocas del Toro is critical, and the damage is irreversible, warned Aris Pimentel, president of the provincial Chamber of Commerce, on Monday, May 26, as he presented an assessment of the four weeks of labor protests that have severely affected this region of the country.
Pimentel reported that more than 7,000 people have lost their jobs and that tourism has completely disappeared. “Recovery will be very slow, even if an immediate solution is found,” he warned.
On Thursday, May 22, Chiquita Panama and Ilara Holding announced the termination of all temporary workers on their banana farms in Changuinola due to “unjustified” abandonment of work since April 28.
Pimentel emphasized that the impact not only affects workers, but the entire population, which is experiencing the direct consequences of the conflict. “In addition to caring for workers, the government must pay attention to the community, which is the one that suffers the most,” he told this outlet.
The business leader estimated that the province is losing $1.5 million daily as a result of the ongoing blockades.
For her part, the Minister of Labor and Workforce Development, Jackeline Muñoz, confirmed that the Executive Branch will present a proposal to the National Assembly this week to update Law 45, which regulates pensions and retirement benefits for banana workers.
He also announced that a government commission—made up of the ministers of Commerce, Agricultural Development, Tourism, and Health—will soon travel to Bocas del Toro.
The roadmap for this inter-institutional mission will be defined at Tuesday’s Cabinet meeting.
Genaro López , former general secretary of the Single Union of Construction and Similar Workers (Suntracs) , was transferred to La Nueva Joya Penitentiary, the largest prison in the country, after spending several days detained at the facilities of the Judicial Investigation Directorate (DIJ).
Police sources confirmed that López was taken to the prison where his union colleague Jaime Caballero is also being held , facing investigation for alleged money laundering.
Last Saturday, May 24, during a hearing, Judge Francisco Carpintero ordered the provisional detention of López, who is charged with aggravated fraud, money laundering, criminal conspiracy, and document forgery.
The measure was adopted at the request of prosecutor Isis Soto, who argued that there was a risk of flight, the possibility of evidence being destroyed, and the defendant’s ability to influence witnesses in the case.
The Comptroller General’s Office filed a criminal complaint with the Public Prosecutor’s Office for alleged crimes against public administration to the detriment of the National Assembly , after detecting the payment of salaries to officials who allegedly failed to comply with their work schedules, i.e., individuals known as “bottles.”
” These officials who have failed to perform their duties (public service operations) and have not been paid their salaries are violating the prohibition contained in Article 145 (section 19) of Law 9 of June 20, 1994, by stating that no public servant may “collect a salary without completing their work day, except for the exceptions provided for in this Law ,” reads the criminal complaint filed on May 21.
The legal action, signed by attorney Irving Álvarez on behalf of the Comptroller’s Office, would be the first complaint filed by Comptroller Anel Flores within the framework of the audits his office conducts in the Assembly.
The investigation covers the use of public funds intended for salaries and special services and targets ” the National Assembly employees who were not at their posts in accordance with the verification of positions, attendance control, and payments carried out by the Comptroller General of the Republic, in the exercise of its constitutional and legal functions .”
The case of 180 officials is mentioned, among them 104, who would be bottles.
According to the lawsuit, this practice violates provisions of the Administrative Code and Law 9 of 1994, which expressly prohibits collecting wages without complying with the work schedule. Consequently, the document warns that, from a criminal perspective, the acts could constitute the crime of corruption of public servants, contemplated in Article 349 of the Penal Code , which punishes those who collect wages from the State without providing any service with fines or community service.
The Ministry of Education’s (Meduca) call to resume in-person classes today, Monday, May 26, was largely ignored by teachers who have been on an indefinite strike since April 23.
This situation highlights a persistent crisis in the Panamanian education system, marked by a lack of consensus between authorities and teachers’ unions.
Aldo Bazán , a representative of parents in the Panama Centro area , confirmed that the outlook for schools remains uncertain.
“Some teachers have returned to their jobs, but many others remain on strike,” he said.
Bazán emphasized that the problem won’t be solved simply with calls from the ministry. “We need to sit down, talk, negotiate, and find a concrete solution so that students don’t continue to miss valuable days of school,” he said.
For her part, Education Minister Lucy Molinar stated during an interview with Telemetro Reporta ‘s morning news program that several schools have resumed classes. “Why should there be retaliation? What the country needs is for children to be in the classroom. The cost and damage of this strike are irreparable,” she stated.