Panama's President José Raúl Mulino will meet with U.S. banana company Chiquita Brands in Brazil to discuss the company's return to operations in the country after shutting down and laying off its workforce following a strike, Minister of Trade and Industry Julio Moltó confirmed on Monday.
Chiquita had employed more than 6,000 people in Changuinola, Bocas del Toro province, before dismissing its staff after protests that disrupted the region. A union stated that lawsuits will be filed against the company over the layoffs.
Moltó said the government aims to secure an agreement during Mulino's Brazil tour beginning August 28. "Talks with the company are moving forward positively. I hope we can finalize a good agreement with Chiquita and that the president can close it in Brazil so that the company returns to the country," he said. The minister did not explain why the talks would be held in Brazil.
"If everything goes as we are thinking, in September or at the end of this month, we could already have good news," Moltó added in an interview with Telemetro. Banana workers' leader Francisco Smith confirmed that "several lawsuits are being filed against Chiquita" over alleged irregularities in the dismissals and labor rights violations. "The company cannot take actions this way and fire workers as they have done," Smith said.
According to Moltó, Chiquita is reviewing losses and considering how to rehire staff. The company has reportedly requested assurances that transport routes will remain open in case of future protests.
The strike began on April 28 against a pension reform that reduced worker benefits. These benefits were later reinstated after an agreement with the Panamanian government. The protests lasted until late June, with workers blocking roads at more than 40 points across Bocas del Toro, leading to shortages of basic goods in the province.
Chiquita reported that the strike, which was declared illegal by a labor court, caused losses of more than US$75 million, while some media outlets estimated losses at over US$100 million.
Source: ticoTimes