Worker groups  step back from restart talks

Eight worker organization that formed part of the ” tripartite dialogue on  the economy and labor development “, called  by the Government have suspended their  involvement

The table’s mediator, the rector of the Specialized University of the Americas, Juan Bosco Bernal said he does not know why the workers made the decision  and    “We will make a call for a plenary meeting on Friday, to find out the reasons although they were left to send a letter,” Bernal told La Prensa .

Eduardo Gil, representative of Union Convergence, said that they have requested the holding of a plenary session, , to debate there the “unilateral” decisions that, , the Government has adopted, without any consensus.

“It is not that we have broken the dialogue, but that we have stepped aside to demand that the plenary be held and to be able to define and clarify what has been taking place,” he said.

Nelva Reyes , of the General Central of Workers of Panama , stressed that the union groups agreed to withdraw from the three technical work commissions: that of socio-labor affairs ; that of labor, economic and legal matters for the preservation of jobs, and that of the gradual return of companies.

“We will not return until there are plenary sessions where some points that the government wants to impose, such as modifying the Labor Code and with regard to the payment of overtime and collective agreements, can be discussed in-depth ,” said Reyes, adding that all this was presented in a draft that the Executive intends to bring to the National Assembly.

“Workers, businessmen and the government, through dialogue, have a great opportunity to seek a consensus to contribute proposals that contribute to post-Covid19 economic recovery plans,” said  the government Labor Ministry (Mitradel).

The plenary is made up of 16 groups or unions: eight of the workers and eight of the businessmen, as well as three participants from the Government.