CosPAE Launches Internship Programs for Youth in Panama

The Private Sector Council for Occupational Assistance (CosPAE) has launched the application process for its internship programs aimed at young people seeking their first professional experience. The project is being carried out in three groups of 25 young people, two of which have already completed their training and professional practice phase, while the third will begin classes in February. The initiative integrates technical training, socio-emotional skills, and professional practice to facilitate the entry of Panamanians into the labor market in the tourism, hospitality, and restaurant sectors. CosPAE detailed that young people not only attend classes but also adhere to schedules, learn service protocols, customer handling, and industry standards, reducing the risk and costs of integration for companies. She reiterated that “hotels, restaurants, and sector companies can add value by incorporating Learning for Life interns because they are not starting from scratch; they are receiving talent that has already gone through a real process of training and practice.” “This program is aligned with what the Internship Law proposes: young people who arrive with competencies, guidance, and clear objectives,” explained Fidedigna Patiño, director of the En Serio and Learning for Life projects. For the tourism and gastronomy sector, this program represents an immediate opportunity to access trained young people, reduce turnover, and turn social responsibility into real productivity and competitiveness. The program, with an investment of $68,296.95, has impacted 75 young people between the ages of 18 and 35, training them as bar assistants, a profile highly demanded by hotels, bars, restaurants, and event centers. Additionally, CoSPAE will incorporate a practice coordinator for three months, with the aim of increasing the employment insertion rate, which currently stands at around 40%.