Panama’s Paid Paternity Leave Law Takes Effect

On May 24, 2017, Panama passed a law that grants new fathers paid paternity leave of three business days starting from the date of the child’s birth. In order for the new dad to qualify for the leave he must provide his employer with the following:

1) at least one week of notice of his spouse’s or cohabitant’s due date, and
2) a birth certificate issued by the National Directorate of the Civil Registry certifying him as the father of the child.
The three-day paid leave qualifies as service time in Panama, and the employee may not work for any other employer or be self-employed during his leave.