The Ombudsman's Office conducted investigations following an ex officio complaint in December 2023 and concluded that there was an evident violation of human rights of Association and Trade Union Freedom in the case of the Unified Union of Construction Workers and Similar (SUNTRACS). This was due to the closure of their eighteen bank accounts by the Ministry of Labor and Labor Development (Mitradel), the Superintendency of Banks of Panama, and the Savings Bank (CA).
In a resolution for the restoration of violated rights No. 8061J -2023, the National Human Rights Institution (INDH) recommended that the Savings Bank restore all the SUNTRACS accounts that had been closed without prior justification, thus respecting the principle of presumption of innocence and due process.
Additionally, the Ombudsman’s Office suggested that the Savings Bank refrain from carrying out similar actions in advance in the future, urging that it only act in cases where there is a founded accusation of wrongdoing. Similarly, the Superintendency of Banks was urged to adopt a more proactive approach in protecting the human rights and interests of account holders, prioritizing this aspect over relationships with banking entities.
The Ombudsman’s Office emphasizes the importance of respecting the right to freedom of association, which is enshrined in the Political Constitution of the Republic of Panama and in various international human rights treaties. In this regard, it is expected that the relevant authorities will take measures to prevent similar situations from occurring in the future to the detriment of guaranteeing workers' rights.
