Workers denounce Labor Ministry hit on plant

WORKERS at a company fined by the Ministry of Labor for not applying new minimum wage laws have issued a statement saying the  the move is "abusive and illegal.

Meanwhile Panameñista Deputy José Luis Varela said Tuesday. January 11 that the fine imposed by the Ministry of Labor on Varela Hermanos for not complying with the new minimum wage law was politically motivated.

The politician – who is the brother of Panameñista presidential candidate Juan Carlos Varela – stressed that the company’s worker's union has already expressed its discontent with the political management of the issue.
According to the Ministry, the company has until Feb. 15 to make "adjustments" in wages or face "strong" sanctions.
Varela said that the company will appeal the ministry's findings as is allowed under the law.
The deputy did not rule out that this was an attack on the presidential campaign of Varela, since he is gaining in the polls against CD candidate José Domingo Arias.
Ministry official Reynaldo Medina said the investigation of Varela Hermanos began due to a request from the union.
"It is not a political issue, it is a social one," he said.