Conusi’s secretary general, Marco Andrade, stated that on October 1 and 2, in the Dominican Republic, where the ILO regional conference will be held, he will request that the Executive branch respond to the brutal persecution of which workers are victims, particularly due to arbitrary actions committed by the Minister of Labor, Jackeline Munoz.

Andrade also announced the Conusi Congress for November 21 and 22, another forum to reject the abuses and violations of labor and human rights led by the administration of José Raul Mulino, which only favors private businesses.

Last July, a delegation from the Trade Union Confederation of the Americas (TUCA) that visited Panama gathered testimonies and evidence to organize a report to the ILO on the abuses and criminalization of protests against a social security law.

The Secretary of Strengthening and Organization of the TUCA, Argentine Marcelo Di Stefano, told Prensa Latina that they will push for Panama to attend the Santo Domingo forum, as established by the rules, with a tripartite delegation (government, employers, and workers), and with its affiliated unions represented.

They will also support the delivery of a letter signed by ILO Secretary-General Gilbert Houngbo to Mulino requesting an end to union violations in one of the 24 nations listed by that organization.

They also indicated that in 2026 they will present a motion of censure against Panama’s presidency of the Inter-American Committee of Labor Ministers, given that the head of the department, Jackeline Muñoz, has been the key player in the Executive branch’s demand for the dissolution of the construction workers’ union for leading popular protests.

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