labor

Marches called to demand wage hike

Labor unions are threatening strikes and street protests if salaries for private-sector employees are not increased to help offset rising food prices.

Leaders of the Consejo Nacional de Trabajadores Organizados (Conato) said yesterday that they will march in from of the offices of the Cámara de Comercio, Industria y Agricultura de Panamá to demand higher wages. The union is also pushing the government to address rising food costs.

The union plans to meet at the end of this month in Veraguas to discuss other possible measures, which could mean a national strike.

Frene Nacional por la Defensa de los Derechos Económicos y Sociales (Frenadeso) officials are finalizing plans for a march in Panama City this Thursday.

Frenadeso leader Andrés Rodríguez said that the group is demanding a general wage increase of 20 percent for private and public sector employees.

Partido Revolucionario Democrático (PRD) Legislator Leandro Ávila said that the Asamblea Nacional is planning to discuss changes in the country's Labor Code that would grant greater job security to workers in the private sector.

Over the weekend, President Martín Torrijos called on businesses to increase wages to help workers cope with rising food costs.

Business leaders, on the other hand, said that the government should not mandate any increase in wages for the private sector, and instead allow employers to adjust salaries based on merit.