The Panamanian state, between 1972 and 1983, withheld the thirteenth-month payment from over 600,000 public and private sector workers for various political and administrative reasons of the era. This caused a multi-million dollar debt that is expected to be settled very soon, specifically in June with the delivery of Negotiable Payment Certificates for Interest on Arrears (CEPANIM) at 3% for 34 years, i.e., from 1983 to 2017. This compensates for the damage caused to this group of the population. But how can you know if you are one of the potential beneficiaries of this disbursement? We detail it below.
“Cepanim is the payment of interest on arrears for the withholding of the second part of the thirteenth month to workers, both from the public and private sectors, who worked during the period from 1972 to 1983,” they added.
The court will determine the documentation that secondary beneficiaries must present and will order the Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF) to make the payment to continue the process; otherwise, the money will remain in reserve until the lawsuit is resolved.
They explained that in case the primary beneficiary has died, the payment will be made to their heirs in order of priority, as established by law: first, spouses; then, the person with whom they had a de facto union; in third place are the children, and in the last tier, other relatives who, if the previous ones do not exist, must file a succession lawsuit.
The Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF), through the Cepadem Attention and Delivery Office, will enable a website so that all citizens can validate their eligibility for the payment, register, and upload the documents required by the entity, depending on the type of case (copy of identity card, marriage certificate, death certificate, among others), to print the certificates and schedule the delivery appointment.
The coordinator of the Cepadem Attention and Delivery Office estimates that the payment of the overdue thirteenth month exceeds 2 million dollars, a figure that will allow it to “fulfill a historical debt,” and it has been eagerly awaited by retirees and pensioners.
She indicated that, just as happened with the first certificates, the Cepanim will also have an expiration date; however, they will be negotable from the day of their delivery in any banking institution.
“Everything will be by appointment so that it is done in an orderly manner and there are no crowds because we are working with elderly people and the least we want is for them to feel uncomfortable,” detailed Carmen Jaén, coordinator of the Cepadem Attention and Delivery Office, in an interview with Panamá América.
“The funds will remain for the years the lawsuit lasts; since this does not expire, they will stay there until someone claims them,” she assured.
Jaén clarified that, unlike Cepadem, which granted both principal and interest at 3% from 1972 to 1983, Cepanim will only disburse the payment of the interest on arrears generated up to the year 2017.
