The reform of the Social Security Fund (CSS) Law in Panama raises a deep reflection on the role of the economy and the protection of social rights. In times of crisis, the defense of social security presents itself as an ethical and human priority, which cannot be reduced only to fiscal or technical issues, but must place the dignity of individuals at its center.
In the words of educator Rogelio Antonio Mata Grau, the economy is not a neutral or apolitical science; instead, it must serve the human being and not become a mechanism that commodifies social rights and disconnects the worker from their own dignity. Social security stands as one of the fundamental pillars of a solidarity-based economy, where the working class advocates for a system that benefits all of society.
The proposed reform to the CSS Law in Panama presents dilemmas about the model of country that one wishes to build: a people-centered economy or one that dehumanizes them? Faced with this crossroads, an authentic reform is necessary, grounded in citizen participation, transparency, and fiscal justice, as an act of defense of life itself.
The discussion surrounding this reform, rejected by a significant part of the Panamanian population, jeopardizes not only the future of pensions but also the essence of a solidarity system built on the foundation of intergenerationality and solidarity. Social security is neither a luxury nor a burden but a historical achievement that guarantees fundamental rights and demonstrates the possibility of building a different country.
Protecting social security not only has implications for economic aspects but also directly impacts the health, education, old age, and well-being of millions of people. It presents the dilemma between a state that watches over the rights of its citizens or one that becomes an entity that manages precariousness, highlighting the crucial importance of a system that safeguards individuals against the vicissitudes of life.
