Mine agree to a voluntary retirement program with workers

Cobre Panama opened a voluntary retirement program who want to use it, as the first step to reduce the salary, after the contract they signed with the state was declared unconstitutional.

The contract was signed with the majority union of the mines, Union of Mineworkers of Panama (Utramipa) and includes paying money legally owed to them.

The company clarified that this plan it will not apply to all workersbecause some of the work will still be necessary for the management and conservation of the (non-drive) phase of the mine.

“Until there is a clearly established plan by the Governmentit will not be possible to determine how many employees will finally be able to continue working in the company on care and preservation (non-operational) tasks,” said Cobre Panamá.

Last Saturday, the verdict of the Supreme Court was published in the Official Gazette. which Law on Contracts no. 406 declares unconstitutional.

He President Laurentino Cortizo announced that after the announcement, the transition process for the execution of the mine closure plan will begin immediately.

In that context, The mining company is aware that the ruling makes it impossible for them to do businesstherefore, the situation of the collaborators has changed and new questions have arisen, which require clarification from the Government.

“These questions, along with others critical to environmental safety and site protection, remain unanswered, and The company calls on the Government to open a dialogue on the transition plan“, says Cobre Panamá.

The company’s workers said they respect the court’s ruling, but They are demanding that Labor Minister Doris Zapata quickly clarify her employment situation and their rights are respected.

They only learned from the Ministry of Labor that they received a request from the company for the suspension of the contractbut for this to be possible, due process must be followed, as stated in the statement released last Friday, December 1st.