A significant labor rights confrontation is unfolding in Panama, where trade unions are engaged in a fierce struggle against executive authorities allegedly employing judicial mechanisms to suppress strike actions and social demonstrations. This development follows a motion endorsed during recent International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) Executive Committee sessions in Bari, Italy, which has since gained traction across social media platforms.
The motion highlights the detention of two prominent construction union leaders, Jaime Caballero and Genaro López, as part of the government’s strategic approach to labor relations. The situation further intensifies with additional union representatives facing severe repercussions: Erasmo Cerrud has sought sanctuary within the Nicaraguan embassy, while Saúl Méndez lives in exile abroad.
Beyond these high-profile cases, the document reveals a broader pattern of systematic repression. Over 180 union officials currently face legal proceedings, while approximately 1,500 workers have been dismissed from their positions following recent strikes against controversial social security reforms. These reforms have been widely criticized for undermining contributors’ rights.
The International Federation of Journalists, established in 1926, contextualizes these events within Panama’s deteriorating labor rights landscape. The Panamanian labor movement has repeatedly submitted formal complaints to the International Labour Organization (ILO), citing consistent violations of international labor standards and systematic obstruction of collective bargaining and petition processes that are fundamental to worker representation.