After 1:30 am this Monday, the Panamanian Chamber of Construction (Capac) and the Single Union of Construction and Similar Workers (Suntracs) reached an agreement regarding the salary for the 2022-2025 collective agreement.
With the signing of the agreement, the strike called from this Monday by the construction workers is avoided.
The Suntracs leadership reported that the salary adjustment consists of $0.28 cents over four years for the general assistant, $0.32 cents for beginners and $0.40 cents for the skilled worker.
“The understanding prevailed that we are all Panamanians, that we understand the reality of our country that is in a process of economic recovery and reactivation,” said the Minister of Labor and Labor Development, Doris Zapata, after signing the agreement.
Conversations between Capac and Suntracs for the signing of a new collective agreement have been going on for six months, but no agreement has been reached. Over the weekend the parties declared themselves in permanent session.
Saúl Méndez, general secretary of Suntracs, warned the workers that at 7:00 am this Monday, everyone must return to their jobs, while the leadership would meet again at the headquarters of the Ministry of Labor and Labor Development ( Mitradel) to widely inform the population about these agreed agreements.
He added that after this understanding, “from now on” the Suntracs representatives will prepare to negotiate the next collective agreement, and to monitor compliance with the current agreement.
“In terms of salary, we managed to ensure that more than 20,000 construction workers who are working today benefit from salary increases as of July 1 of this year. Salaries have been agreed for July 1, 2023, 2024 and 2025. We achieved this thanks to being organized in Suntracs, maintaining the unity, firmness and discipline that we need at times like these,” said Méndez.
