A significant strike has paralyzed Panama, initiated by banana plantation workers protesting a new social security law that they claim will negatively impact their pensions. This has led to 5,000 workers being fired by the Chiquita Banana Company, a major employer in Bocas del Toro, which has indefinitely closed its doors due to the strike costing them $75 million.
In response, the government has declared a state of emergency in Bocas del Toro to support the affected population, attributing the crisis to an “illegal strike.”
The strike has expanded beyond banana workers to include hospital workers, teachers, and construction workers across Panama. These groups assert they were not consulted on the pension reform plan and believe it will devastate current and future generations. They are committed to continuing the strike indefinitely.
The government defends the reforms, stating the old pension system was insolvent and the new law will ensure better long-term pensions, suggesting a “lack of understanding” of the law among the public and an openness to dialogue for modifications.
The ongoing strike has paralyzed construction and incurred an estimated $90 million loss for Panama, with no resolution in sight. https://www.facebook.com/jeff.mah.5/videos/599823053138646/?__cft__[0]=AZXhCws_0A81v0kYsBc3fLY6zR-NHQ9FNstJd2XJbzqm17ck2li_Rw7AS4JyhObKUYf5X8PBBj_TvEyaOHFJH-T4Dlq8qtV2XwmWnhNRsL6tOmBdLiMslNoH4pVsTze1V1UNezv_0cCKjTbZEcHe5jPHxxvz_BdnCUFl2Dy2OjhZhg&__tn__=%2CO%2CP-R
