Chiquita lays off thousands: strike chaos in Panama escalates!

Chiquita lays off thousands: strike chaos in Panama escalates!

Chiquita has announced that it will lay off thousands of employees in Panama, a direct consequence of months of strikes. These strikes, which have been ongoing since April 24, were organized by various unions and are directed against a controversial pension reform. The company reported that the economic losses due to the work stoppage now amount to at least 75 million US dollars, the equivalent of 66 million euros. The layoffs affect around 4,900 employees without a permanent contract, while Chiquita employs a total of around 7,000 people in Panama, as vienna.at reports.

The strikers are not only demanding changes to the pension reform, but are also calling on other professional groups to show solidarity. Teachers, indigenous groups and construction workers join the protests. Another central point of the protests is a security agreement between Panama and the USA, which is intended to enable an increased US military presence at the Panama Canal. The situation recently escalated in the province of Bocas del Toro, where there were violent clashes between security forces and striking workers, as Deutschlandfunk reports.

Violence and escalation of protests

The protests in Panama have now developed into a serious conflict. There were reports of burning barricades, burning of shops and cars, and attacks on police stations in Changuinola. At least two workers were shot dead and more than 300 people, including police officers, were injured in the clashes. In addition, over 100 strikers were arrested in the dispute and there is a nighttime curfew. The strikers are also demanding the repeal of a new neoliberal labor law passed under the government of President Ricardo Martinelli, which further restricts workers' rights. Despite the violent clashes, tens of thousands of people waited in Panama City on Sunday for the largest demonstration in recent years to fight for their rights and demand higher wages and overtime pay, according to taz.

President Martinelli, who has been in office since May 2022, is trying to downplay the protests as being organized by “foreigners and opposition figures”. Reforms pushed through by his government allow companies to fire strikers and replace them with new workers, which has further fueled anger among workers. As the government increases police deployment to contain the unrest, workers are determined to fight for their demands, including the repeal of the new laws and fair pay.