President José Raúl Mulino On the morning of April 30, he made his position clear regarding the bill No. 491which proposes increasing charges on containers to finance pensions of up to $600: it does not have government support.
The initiative, which is awaiting the third debate in the National Assembly, has generated tension between the Executive and key economic sectors.
“He was not consulted”: Mulino’s direct warning
Mulino assured that the rule was not previously discussed with the Executive or with fundamental entities, such as the Ministry of Economy and Finance nor the Maritime Authority of Panama.
The president indicated that he has barely seen general information about the project and avoided making a definitive judgment, although he acknowledged his concern about the reactions it has already provoked.
In addition, he left an important signal: he will evaluate whether or not to sanction the law if it is approved.
Rejection from the maritime sector puts pressure on the debate
The proposal has also been questioned by the Panama Maritime Chamber, which warns that increasing container costs could affect the country’s competitiveness.
These alerts already weigh on the discussion and reinforce the caution shown by the Executive.
The bottom line: raise pensions to $600
The project, presented by Congresswoman Grace Hernández, seeks to improve retirees’ pensions up to 600 dollars a month, but the financing mechanism charging the logistics sector is what has ignited the controversy.
