Timing of Malls reopening affects 40,000 jobs

The economic impact of COVID-19 on shopping malls is incalculable, said the sector’s representative Nadji Duque, on Tuesday, May 26,  at the economic table seeking to reactivate activities in Panama.

For Duque, there is  concern because they are not clear in which reopening phase the shopping centers are located.

Approximately 3,000 shops in malls are closed and about 40,000  job contracts have been suspended. Despite this, only supermarkets, banks and pharmacies remain active within the malls, which carries operating expenses for maintenance, security and cleaning, while they are not receiving income.

Although they think according to  the Ministry of Commerce (MICI)  they are included in phase  3, related to retail purchases, they have not received notice from the Ministry of Health (Minsa)

Meanwhile, according to the new normal, some measures that will be followed to avoid crowds, including eliminating massive events, adjustments of seats for distancing, requiring the use of a mask, and temperature checking.