{"id":1424,"date":"2025-12-20T14:47:32","date_gmt":"2025-12-20T19:47:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/afra.com\/?p=1424"},"modified":"2025-12-20T14:47:36","modified_gmt":"2025-12-20T19:47:36","slug":"labor-trends-panama-conclusions-afra-annual-conference","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.afra.com\/en\/derecho-laboral\/tendencias-laborales-panama-conclusiones-conferencia-anual-afra\/","title":{"rendered":"Labor Trends and Challenges in Panama: Conclusions of the AFRA Annual Conference"},"content":{"rendered":"<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"1424\" class=\"elementor elementor-1424\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-159b585b e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"159b585b\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;jet_parallax_layout_list&quot;:[]}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-256a6de6 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"256a6de6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fc02ff1 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"fc02ff1\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;jet_parallax_layout_list&quot;:[]}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a3a78de elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"a3a78de\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">AFRA's Labor Law Department held its Annual Update Conference. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This technical forum brought together human resources directors and corporate advisors to analyze the recent evolution of labor relations in Panama. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The debate focused on legal risk management in the face of an increasingly demanding regulatory environment regarding terminations and compensation.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2622699 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"2622699\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;jet_parallax_layout_list&quot;:[]}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-50ba76f elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"50ba76f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"194\" height=\"165\" src=\"https:\/\/www.afra.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Capture-decran-2025-12-10-080208.png\" class=\"attachment-1536x1536 size-1536x1536 wp-image-1426\" alt=\"Alfaro, Ferrer &amp; Ramirez | Providing legal services\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.afra.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Capture-decran-2025-12-10-080208.png 194w, https:\/\/www.afra.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Capture-decran-2025-12-10-080208-14x12.png 14w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 194px) 100vw, 194px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">The specialized Labor Law team of AFRA gathered during the Annual Conference.<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-dc39679 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"dc39679\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Litigation and Recovery Proceedings<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f1656d1 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"f1656d1\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;jet_parallax_layout_list&quot;:[]}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c1be52b elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"c1be52b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One of the critical points addressed was the increase in challenges to dismissals and reinstatement requests. Recent jurisprudence from the Conciliation and Decision Boards requires employers to exercise absolute rigor in disciplinary due process.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>The challenge:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> A procedural error in the notification or justification of dismissal can lead to costly reinstatement judgments for the company.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>The strategy:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> It is imperative to thoroughly document the grounds for dismissal and ensure that internal regulations are up to date and duly approved by the Ministry of Labor and Labor Development (MITRADEL).<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3f47234 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"3f47234\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;jet_parallax_layout_list&quot;:[]}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6034614 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"6034614\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Compensation and Emotional Salary Strategies\n<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-40106c9 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"40106c9\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;jet_parallax_layout_list&quot;:[]}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-eb712d9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"eb712d9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Faced with inflationary pressure and competition for talent, companies are diversifying their compensation packages beyond the base salary. However, the implementation of \u00abbenefits in kind\u00bb or \u00abemotional salary\u00bb carries tax and labor risks if not structured correctly. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It is vital to legally distinguish between what constitutes salary (and therefore counts for benefits and severance pay) and what are non-salary benefits, in order to avoid future contingencies before the Social Security Fund or in labor settlements.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a3630b6 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"a3630b6\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;jet_parallax_layout_list&quot;:[]}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b96326b elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"b96326b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"296\" height=\"248\" src=\"https:\/\/www.afra.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Capture-decran-2025-12-10-080157.png\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-1440\" alt=\"Alfaro, Ferrer &amp; Ramirez | Providing legal services\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.afra.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Capture-decran-2025-12-10-080157.png 296w, https:\/\/www.afra.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Capture-decran-2025-12-10-080157-14x12.png 14w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 296px) 100vw, 296px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1e3f2d1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"1e3f2d1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Implications for Employers and HR Departments.<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f271659 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"f271659\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;jet_parallax_layout_list&quot;:[]}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d32fa4c elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"d32fa4c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The conference discussions highlight the need to move from reactive to preventive management:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Contract Audit:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Review the compensation clauses to ensure that bonuses and variable benefits are clearly defined.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Offboarding Management:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Standardize offboarding protocols to minimize exposure to reimbursement litigation.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Regulatory Update:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Keeping up to date with the criteria of local labor courts is essential for operational decision-making.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For a review of your compensation policies or labor litigation advisory services, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.afra.com\/en\/contact\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">our specialized team is at your disposal.<\/a><\/span><\/i><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Analysis of the key conclusions of the AFRA Annual Conference on the labor landscape in Panama: strategies to mitigate risks in reintegration processes and how to structure compensation and \u2018emotional salary\u2019 in compliance with current regulations.<\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1426,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[29],"tags":[33,32,40,36,34,35],"class_list":["post-1424","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-derecho-laboral","tag-compensaciones-y-beneficios","tag-derecho-laboral-panama","tag-litigios-laborales","tag-reintegro-laboral","tag-salario-emocional","tag-tendencias-laborales"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.afra.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1424","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.afra.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.afra.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.afra.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.afra.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1424"}],"version-history":[{"count":17,"href":"https:\/\/www.afra.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1424\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1447,"href":"https:\/\/www.afra.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1424\/revisions\/1447"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.afra.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1426"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.afra.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1424"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.afra.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1424"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.afra.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1424"}],"curies":[{"name":"well played","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}