Jubilados seek payment for 45 year old debt

Jubilados protested in Los Santos and Bocas del  Toro on Monday, Oct, 31 calling on President Juan Carlos Varela to sanction payments that were due 45 years ago. The groups protesting were calling for Varela to put in action a law that was recently approved by the National Assembly to pay 13th-month payments owed to workers from 1972 to 1983.

According to De La Guardia Minister of Economy and Finance, an analysis by the ministry found the payments to be “unconstitutional.” However,  Claudio Escalona of the National Coordinating Committee of Retirees and Pensioner of Los Santos explained,  “the debt is not of a political party, but of the state.” 

Escalona said that the group rejects  the position taken by De La Guardia. “We cannot accept that the minister is attacking the integrity of retirees,” said Escalona, who was reacting to the minister’s position that the law be vetoed by the president.

Ismael Sáez, another protester, said that more demonstrations will be held if the law is not signed.