Moderators Moderator_02 Posted December 6, 2018 Moderators Share Posted December 6, 2018 Quote President of Panama partially vetoes pension increase law for retirees Thu, 12/06/2018 - 09:47 Panamanian President Juan Carlos Varela partially vetoed a bill that establishes new taxes to pay an increase to pensioners and retirees, the State Communication Department reported today. Bill 631, approved by the National Assembly of Panama on October 17, was partially vetoed by Varela for considering four of its articles as inconvenient and unenforceable, and forwarded it to the Legislative Body for reading at the special sessions it is currently developing. The funding sources for these increases established in the bill partly motivated the reasons of the Executive for its partial veto. The Government announced that a High Level Commission "is working on a responsible and sustainable economic formula to respond to the just aspirations of retirees and pensioners." The High Level Commission is made up of the Deputy Ministers of the Presidency, Francisco Artola; and of Economy and Finance, Gustavo Valderrama. "This High Level Commission reiterates the meeting announced for this Friday, December 7, which will assess options for new funding sources that do not affect other sectors of the country's economy," according to official information. Retirees have expressed their approval of the bill, requesting Varela not to veto it as requested by business associations for their possible effects on the economy. Franklin Ortiz, a spokesman for retirees, told reporters that he expected this veto, but said that apart from continuing to fight for the increase, they are open to dialogue and Friday's meeting with the government. Bill 631 establishes an increase of between 35 to 60 dollars for retirees and pensioners of the Social Security Fund (CSS), as of January 1, 2019. The increase covers retirees who receive pensions of from $ 500 to $ 1,500 per month. The table proposed by the AN includes an increase of 60 dollars for those who receive a pension down 500; 45 dollars to those who charge between 501 and 1,000 dollars; and $ 35 to those who receive between $ 1,001 and $ 1,500. The funding sources to obtain this increase will come from 7 percent of the amount of remittances sent abroad; 5 percent of the net annual profits of slot machines and gambling centers in casinos and gambling halls. It also establishes that the amount collected in the selective tax to the consumption of beers, a 20 percent will go to the Disability, Old-age and Death of the Social Security Fund that maintains the payment of pensions for retirees; 5 percent to the Panamanian Institute of Sports, another 5 percent to the Institute of Mental Health for the Study and Addictions Treatment Center; and another 20 percent to the increases established in this Law. The Panamanian Association of Business Executives (Apede) has criticized the AN for the approval of this bill, and asked Varela to veto it. The Apede said on October 19 in a public statement that considers it "imprudent" that Parliament legislates on a matter "as relevant as the lifting of the tax burden, without a consultation process or in-depth analysis to determine the effects on the whole economy of these increases". "The hasty way in which the bill was approved makes us reflect on whether the final objective of the deputies is only to regain the approval of the electorate ahead of the imminent electoral process and their reelection aspirations," said the business association. Panama will hold general elections in May 2019 and a civil society campaign calls for "no reelection" of lawmakers. The Apede noted that the "repercussions of the bill can be devastating" for the Panamanian economy. https://www.panamatoday.com/panama/president-panama-partially-vetoes-pension-increase-law-retirees-8595 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_02 Posted December 8, 2018 Author Moderators Share Posted December 8, 2018 Quote Panamanian retirees take to the streets to demand an increase in pensions Fri, 12/07/2018 - 15:33 Dozens of pensioners demonstrated today in the Panamanian capital to demand an increase in pensions, after President Juan Carlos Varela this week vetoed a bill that establishes increases in up to 60 dollars. "Mr. President be honest to yourself, we want the increase, we do not want bonuses, please we want the increase," retired police officer Óscar Coop told reporters. The retirees, including elderly people in wheelchairs, demonstrated in a central square of the old town, near the seat of the Government. They carried banners in which they could read messages such as "President Varela change your attitude" or "retirees and pensioners deserve respect. Their lives and effort contributed to the country". On December 5, the president partially vetoed bill 631, which establishes an increase as of next January 1, between 35 to 60 dollars to retirees and pensioners of the Social Security Fund (CSS). The bill, approved by the National Assembly in October, states that the increase will be financed by a 7 percent tax on remittances sent abroad and a rate of 5 percent of the net annual profits of slot machines and gambling centers in casinos and gambling halls. The government explained that it vetoed the bill because it disagreed with the funding sources and that it formed a high-level commission, which is meeting this Friday, to seek "a responsible and sustainable economic formula to respond to the just aspirations of retirees and pensioners". "If (that formula) does not meet the needs of retirees we will take to the streets because (the increase) is a right that we have and as such we will continue fighting," said another pensioner present at the demonstration. Varela, on the other hand, said on Thursday that he is in favor of an increase in pensions, but that we must look for new funding sources and that solution could be a "bonus". "We are asking for an increase and it has been very well specified where this increase has to come from. The bill never establishes a bonus. We hope that the proposal that comes out of the Presidency today will be concise and accurate and we will put it to the retirees’ vote," said the retired policeman Coop. The Panamanian Association of Business Executives (Apede) was one of the unions that harshly criticized the Parliament for approving a tax increase "without a consultation process or in-depth analysis" and warned that the impact of the bill could be "devastating" for the country's economy. https://www.panamatoday.com/panama/panamanian-retirees-take-streets-demand-increase-pensions-8610 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dozens of pensioners demonstrated today in the Panamanian capital to demand an increase in pensions, after President Juan Carlos Varela this week vetoed a bill that establishes increases in up to 60 dollars. "Mr. President be honest to yourself, we want the increase, we do not want bonuses, please we want the increase," retired police officer Óscar Coop told reporters. The retirees, including elderly people in wheelchairs, demonstrated in a central square of the old town, near the seat of the Government. They carried banners in which they could read messages such as "President Varela change your attitude" or "retirees and pensioners deserve respect. Their lives and effort contributed to the country". On December 5, the president partially vetoed bill 631, which establishes an increase as of next January 1, between 35 to 60 dollars to retirees and pensioners of the Social Security Fund (CSS). The bill, approved by the National Assembly in October, states that the increase will be financed by a 7 percent tax on remittances sent abroad and a rate of 5 percent of the net annual profits of slot machines and gambling centers in casinos and gambling halls. The government explained that it vetoed the bill because it disagreed with the funding sources and that it formed a high-level commission, which is meeting this Friday, to seek "a responsible and sustainable economic formula to respond to the just aspirations of retirees and pensioners". "If (that formula) does not meet the needs of retirees we will take to the streets because (the increase) is a right that we have and as such we will continue fighting," said another pensioner present at the demonstration. Varela, on the other hand, said on Thursday that he is in favor of an increase in pensions, but that we must look for new funding sources and that solution could be a "bonus". "We are asking for an increase and it has been very well specified where this increase has to come from. The bill never establishes a bonus. We hope that the proposal that comes out of the Presidency today will be concise and accurate and we will put it to the retirees’ vote," said the retired policeman Coop. The Panamanian Association of Business Executives (Apede) was one of the unions that harshly criticized the Parliament for approving a tax increase "without a consultation process or in-depth analysis" and warned that the impact of the bill could be "devastating" for the country's economy.
Moderators Moderator_02 Posted December 25, 2018 Author Moderators Share Posted December 25, 2018 Quote Panamanian retirees denounce police blockade during protest for increase in pensions Mon, 12/24/2018 - 17:58 A hundred retirees were dispersed today when the police dissolved the protest that temporarily closed an important road in Panama City, at a time they demanded an increase in pensions. Older adults, who left from Plaza 5 de Mayo to the Panamanian Presidency in the Old Town of the capital, called the protest after the president Juan Carlos Varela vetoed a bill that establishes increases of up to 60 dollars. The march was dispersed by members of the Multitude Control Unit (UCM) of the National Police, several people were attacked, said to Acan-Efe, the leader of the Association of Retirees and Pensioners, Franklin Ortiz. "We were going to sing bitter Christmas to the president for not having sanctioned the project and instead he vetoed it, but when the group was walking on the pedestrian way toward the Panamanian Government House, they threw the riot police against people of 75 and 80 years old", he claimed. Ortiz, who was still in the vicinity of the place, said some were beaten with plastic sticks, including an elderly woman. "We are every day on the street fighting a hunger wage of 200 and 300 dollars which is what most of the retirees in this country earn, and what they did is not fair, that is why we demand a call of attention to these facts", said Ortiz. Varela partially vetoed last December 5 the bill 631, which establishes an increase, from next January 1, of between 35 to 60 dollars to retirees and pensioners of the Social Security Fund (CSS). The legislative initiative, approved by the National Assembly in October, stipulates that the increase will be financed by a 7 percent tax on remittances sent abroad and a rate of 5 percent of the net annual profits of slot machines and betting centers in casinos and gambling halls. The Government explained that it vetoed the project because it disagreed with the sources of funding and that it formed a high-level commission to seek "a responsible and sustainable economic formula to respond to the just aspirations of pensioners". The leader assured that the retirees will continue in the streets if they will not obtain a satisfactory answer. They will even be there on January 2 when the president attends the installation of the second term of the fifth ordinary session in Parliament. https://www.panamatoday.com/panama/panamanian-retirees-denounce-police-blockade-during-protest-increase-pensions-8765 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marcelyn Posted December 25, 2018 Share Posted December 25, 2018 This reminds me of the early 2018 protests in Nicaragua started because of social security/pension disputes. Situation still not settled in Nicaragua. Several hundred people now dead in this neighboring country. Economy suffered with bank and hotel closures plus tourism down. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_02 Posted January 22, 2019 Author Moderators Share Posted January 22, 2019 Quote Proteting pensioners create city-wide gridlock Posted on January 21, 2019 in Panama Post Views: 320 Panama jubilados (retirees) brought traffic across Panama City to a virtual halt for over three hours on Monday, January 21, as they fulfilled their promise to continue their protests over lack of government action in adjusting pensions. A group kept Via Espana closed for almost two hours, which caused a huge traffic jam which quickly spread across the city. It was compounded by the closure of the Cinta Costera and Avenida Balboa at 6 a.m. for World Youth Day (WYD) activities. which had already led to a stop and go crawl on roads like Justo Arosemena, and the Northern corridor as buses and delivery trucks were diverted to new routes. The retirees, who are calling for an adjustment to their pensions, blocked Via Espana from 3:30 to 5.30 p.m. With President Varela’s attention focused on receiving Pope Francis on Thursday, the pensioners have so far got little response to their demands, but critics of the government expenditure of over $61 million on WYD, are raising their voices. The Transístmica road as well as Ricardo J. Alfaro were full of vehicles that looked for an alternative to escape the gridlock and the north corridor, in the direction of Panama Norte, moved at a snail’s pace, Many workers planning to head home remained in their offices hoping for later relief but at 6.30 p.m. there was little relief on many roads. Later in the week, there will be fewer vehicles on the road as public service offices close for WYD. https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/panama/proteting-pensioners-create-city-wide-gridlock Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bonnie Posted January 22, 2019 Share Posted January 22, 2019 I'm sure glad not to be in the city this week! And the article provides an answer to how much Panama is spending on WYD: $61 million. While schools, criminal justice, poverty, etc. go unaddressed. Disgraceful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_02 Posted May 2, 2019 Author Moderators Share Posted May 2, 2019 Quote Senior citizens get pre-election boost Posted 01/05/2019 JUST DAYS before the elections the Cabinet Council threw some carrots to the country’s senior citizens who have been protesting throughout the term of the current administration. The cabinet announced an extraordinary bonus of $ 100 to pensioners and retirees, says the State Secretariat of Communication. "The commitment of President Juan Carlos Varela to continue doing social justice to this sector of the country's population is fulfilled, we made an increase in 2015 and Cepadem in 2018," said the statement. It follows a blizzard of photo-op openings of stat e projects in recent days, Many of them unfiished, The initiative will be presented by the Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF) to the National Assembly and also stipulates that the bonus will be granted to retirees and pensioners who are in force in the payment schedule as of April 2019. The Cabinet, chaired by President Varela, also approved the project that creates the National Commission for the Revision of Pensioners and Retirees https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/senior-citizens-get-pre-election-boost Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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