Understanding labor laws in Panama is crucial as an expanding company looking to hire staff. Panama offers competitive conditions for doing business – it has the lead in economic growth in Central America which draws much attention from foreign investors. The country’s estimated GDP growth for 2019 is 3.7%, and it has a reported GDP per capita of US$15,642. Furthermore, Panama is expected to continue experiencing stable growth in 2020.
The Panama Canal strongly supports international commerce activities, and the country has developed a set of incentives that favor foreign investment. As an employer entering this market, you must comply with all current labor laws when hiring staff in Panama.
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Labor laws in Panama: Know the Labor Code
Labor and employment in Panama is governed by the Labor Code. This code was adopted through Cabinet Decree N. 152 of March 1971, reformed by Law N. 44 of August 1995 and it specifies norms to regularize labor.
Minimum wage
Opportunities for investment in Panama are scattered in a variety of industries, each with certain recruitment needs. To hire talent for your business, it’s important to know the different minimum wages applicable for each industry or economic zone.
There is no such thing as an equal minimum wage for all economic activities in this Central American country.
According to labor laws in Panama, the minimum wage depends on the type of activity and size of the business. There are 37 different classifications for minimum wages between regions.
The most common commercial activities and their respective wages include:
|
Commercial activity |
Minimum wage (US$ per hour) |
|
Agriculture and animal breeding |
US$1.91 |
|
Construction |
US$3.24 |
|
Wholesale and retail for small- to medium-sized enterprises(SME) |
US$2.27 |
|
Wholesale and retail for big companies |
US$2.81 |
|
Supermarkets with 5 or more branches |
US$2.88 |
|
Colon Free Trade Zone |
US$3.20 |
|
Small-sized Hotels |
US$2.28 |
|
Big-sized hotels |
US$2.75 |
|
Resort with franchises |
US$2.88 |
|
Small-sized restaurants |
US$2.22 |
|
Big-sized restaurants |
US$2.88 |
Employing foreign workers
Under Panamanian labor law, only 10% of your business workforce can be filled by foreign workers. If foreign individuals are considered specialized, technicians or trusted individuals, the percentage increases to 15%.
Note that foreigners married to or dependent on a Panamanian national are not included in the above foreign workforce percentage.
Benefits to workers
Labor laws in Panama also define an employee’s benefit(s), which include the following:
- Vacations: According to article 177 of the Labor Code, workers are entitled to 30 days of paid vacations per year.
- Bonus salary: Employees are entitled to a bonus equal to one month of salary each year. This bonus is split into 3 parts and is paid on April 15, August 15 and December 15.
- Social Security: Companies in Panama must comply with social security obligations. They must make contributions towards employee health insurance to the social security authority, Caja de Seguro Social, (Social Security Fund), as well as applicable pension and unemployment support.
- Maternity Leave: During pregnancy, female employees may receive a paid maternity leave of up to 6 weeks before birth, and a paid leave for up to 8 weeks afterwards.
Contracts
According to labor laws in Panama, periods for employment contracts can be indefinite, definite (‘fixed-term’), and specified for the time the employee takes to complete a determined project.
The definite contract must always be in a written form. The timeframe cannot be longer than a year, unless the project requires specialized technical preparation. In this case, the contract can be signed for a period of 3 years.
Under labor laws in Panama, It is also possible to hire an employee for a probation period – this period has a maximum time limit of 3 months. If the employer isn’t satisfied with the employee’s performance or work during this time, there is no obligation to hire them. Similarly, employees have no obligation to the company if they choose not to continue working within the specified period.
Labor laws in Panama: Working Hours
The workday is divided into 2 periods:
- Daytime, from 6:00 until 18:00
- Nighttime, from 18:00 until 6:00
If an employee’s day shift includes more than 3 hours during the nighttime schedule, it is considered nighttime work. In addition, if the person’s working hours include both daytime and nighttime working hours, it is considered a mixed schedule (noting that more than 3 hours’ work during the night schedule classifies as a night shift).
The maximum daytime working hours is 8 hours and the working week cannot exceed 48 hours. The maximum night-time working hours is 7 hours, which corresponds to 42 weekly hours.
Panama’s regulation regarding labor unions
The Labor Code recognizes that employees have the right to organize in unions. Employees can choose from any union registered with the government. The employer is obligated to negotiate with the union that represents their staff. In addition, labor laws in Panama recognize workers’ right to strike and establishes prior negotiation procedures between the employer and the union before the employer suspends an employee.
In order to protect your business and comply with all relevant employment regulations, it’s strongly recommended you engage with a labor law expert in Panama for advice and guidance.
Engage with labor law experts in Panama to support your business
Panama is an attractive destination for investment. The country’s fiscal policies represent a great advantage for expanding companies of all sizes. Panama also offers significant ease of access to international markets.
Foreign businesses expanding to the country should hire employees in compliance with labor laws in Panama. Seek assistance from trusted, experienced employment law professionals so as to avoid any unnecessary penalties from local authorities.
At Biz Latin Hub, we specialize in supporting multinational companies from all around the world enter Panama. Our team of multilingual lawyers and accountants offers customized market entry and back-office solutions in areas such as company incorporation, recruitment and hiring, PEO services, commercial representation, and visa services.
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