Labor Minister under fire for cozy relationships leading to big payouts

Companies in which lawyers are bound by family ties or professional activities with  Panama' s Minister of Labor, Alma Cortés have benefited from lucrative contracts under the program “mi primer empleo” (My first job.) says La Prensa .

The program  seeks to empower young Panamanians, but in an era of promised change nepotism seems to rule.

Sara Cortés Aguilar, sister of the Minister of Labor, appears to be linked as a lawyer in two companies that have received training contracts amounting to $493,000.

Companies seem to have been “created” to avail themselves of the contracts. 
One such company was hired just two months after its creation, to teach a course in "Basic English for tourism." {jathumbnail off}

Minister Cortes said it was justified, as  it is a daily activity of the lawyers who have expertise.

Another cited anomaly was the creation, of five companies in one day,

They were  allegedly run from a single location, and have benefited from contracts for $2.4 million. Others, according to radio reports have given addresses which are in fact  occupied by other companies.
The Controlaria could not be reached for comment.