Panama Sees Record Number of Labor Contracts

Last year, 309,610 labor contracts were signed, an 11% increase compared to 2024. This is the first time in a decade that annual labor contracts have exceeded the 300,000 mark. Of the total, 179,458 contracts were submitted to the central Ministry of Labor, while 130,152 were submitted to its regional offices. The majority of the contracts, 169,113 (54.6%), were for a fixed term, while 78,316 (25.3%) were for an indefinite term. According to Minister of Labor Jackeline Muñoz, these successes are thanks to state programs such as "My First Job," which plans to create 5,000 new jobs this year. The government has also approved an ambitious investment budget that is expected to generate a significant number of jobs this year. Additionally, last week the National Assembly approved a bill in its third debate that regulates internships for young people who have never worked, so they can gain experience when looking for a job. Two weeks ago, several ministries and public institutions presented the inter-institutional work being promoted by the government to create jobs, protect Panamanian workers, and strengthen policies in this area.