Panama: banana workers to receive medical attention

Amsterdam - The Social Security (CSS) and the National Company of Banana Producers reached an agreement concerning the health of around 150 banana workers, who did not receive medical attention for three months.

The regional director of Work, Israel Strap, said that the companies did not pay the quota of around 5 thousand dollars, which caused the suspension of attention by the CSS. With this agreement, the CSS is committed to give attention to the workers while the company brings the payments up to date. Strap expressed that the health situation in the Raft zone is delicate, reason why the medical benefit cannot be interrupted.

The independent banana producers of Divalá, district of Alanje, as well as Barú, have been in an economic crisis for more than five years, which had unemployment, kidnapping of goods as consequences and the closing of routes by the workers, who claim the payment of overdue salaries, holidays and quotas to the CSS.