The National Minimum Wage Commission agreed on Wednesday, December 10, 2025, to new salary adjustments that will take effect starting January 16, 2026. The new adjustments, benefiting over 400,000 workers, will be implemented in stages based on 59 rates covering 74 economic activities. According to a statement from the Ministry of Labor and Labor Development (Mitradel), in Region 1, a monthly increase of $10 was approved for the domestic sector; security agents will receive $12 in both regions; restaurants, hotels, and cargo transportation will see a salary increase of $9.50. Meanwhile, in Region 2, waste collectors in Region 1 will receive an additional $15 per month. For Regions 1 and 2, retail trade will also increase by $9.50 per month. The representative of the National Council of Organized Workers (CONATO), Juan Samaniego, indicated that at the negotiating table, they supported their proposal with indicators, analyses, and labor studies. He stated that today the Panamanian working class feels backed by the workers' sector through CONATO, which responsibly unified a criterion and called for a solidary position towards another organization that refused to unify a single proposal. Meanwhile, Juan Antonio Ledezma from the National Council of Entrepreneurial (CONEP) stated that agreements were reached for the benefit of the nation and the workers, and it was guaranteed that jobs would be maintained. The Minister of Mitradel, Jackeline Muñoz, said that at the negotiating table, the employer and worker sectors did not raise unattainable expectations, but put the Panamanian people first.
