According to Juan Arias, president of the Chamber of Commerce, the Chiquita banana company will begin hiring the first 3,000 workers for its farms in Bocas del Toro in September, after temporarily suspending operations.
The plan is to add 2,000 more workers in February 2026, reaching a total of 5,000 employees in less than six months. The phased restart will begin with company engineers visiting the farms to assess plantation conditions and determine the types of work required, such as cleaning and plant maintenance.
This measure is part of a memorandum of understanding signed on August 29 between Chiquita and the Panamanian government, following the suspension of operations after protests in May and June in Bocas del Toro province, which affected the company's finances.
The Minister of Labor and Labor Development, Jackeline Muñoz, said that hiring will begin after the farms' condition has been assessed. Arias emphasized that Chiquita's return "is an achievement" for Panama, and highlighted that, despite offers from other countries, the company chose to stay in Panama because of the quality of the land.
The agreement also includes the formation of a technical committee, comprising representatives from the government and the company, to oversee compliance with the commitments. Panama's president, José Raúl Mulino, stated that the agreement will restore stability to Bocas del Toro and enable it to focus on production, investment, and job creation.
Carlos López Flores, president of Chiquita, stated that the company will operate under a more sustainable, modern, and efficient model, creating good jobs and contributing to the country's economic and social growth.
Arias said that Chiquita's return is happening under new conditions to prevent issues like those that led to the previous suspension, when a workers' strike, deemed illegal by a labor court, caused estimated losses of $75 million. According to Minister Muñoz, the union did not inform its members of this decision.
Source: laestrella.com.pa