“Worst ever” minimum wage adjustment

The   new minimum wage adjustment which  ranges  from,  1% in the struggling  hotel sector to  8% in the  “green gold” banana sector is  the “worst-ever says The National Council of Organized Workers (Conato)

In a press release issued after the government’s December 31 announcement the Conato asserts that the adjustment “is outrageous and a grievance for the life of the working population, since in some sectors” 1%  translates into just two cents hour …This new salary is really insignificant especially for the most humble and impoverished sectors of the country. It is clear that this government pleases businessmen, who imposed their interests without support in any indicator,” said the statement.

Conato said  that Panama closes the year with the highest economic growth in the region and has the best projections (5%) for 2020, but  despite this the announced salary adjustment is significantly below the adjustments approved in other Latin American countries with lower growth than Panama.