Mitradel of Panama Halts Cash Payments to Suntracs and Audits Union Funds
A possible money laundering scheme, led the Ministry of Trade and Industry to suspend cash payments of union dues to Suntracs and, in addition, to decide to audit the use of funds granted to the country’s union organizations.
The Ministry of Labor and Workforce Development (Mitradel) has decided to halt cash payments of union dues, deducted from workers’ salaries, to the Single Union of Construction and Related Workers (Suntracs), warning that this method could facilitate money laundering. Labor Minister Jackeline Muñoz, pictured above and below with President Mulino, revealed that the alert arose after receiving formal inquiries from the Panamanian Chamber of Construction (Capac), which reported that the union had requested cash payments of union dues, a practice that, Muñoz warned, could constitute a potential risk of money laundering.
Contractors Must now Pay Union Dues to Mitradel by Certified Check
The Panamanian Chamber of Construction (Capac) informed its members, both general and specialized contractors, about the implementation of a new procedure for the deposit and delivery of union dues deducted from workers, established by the Ministry of Labor and Labor Development (Mitradel).
