Businessmen and economists of the country are worried about the failure, slowness and "deafness" of the Government against the negative results of the different indicators, product of the economic downturn.
Elisa Suárez, Executive Director of the National Council of Housing Promoters (Convivienda) was emphatic in pointing out that we cannot stay in a system of "chronic institutional deafness", or live in a fantasy world, because the numbers tell the truth "they are cold and frightening at times", she said.
These statements were made around the decrease in the statistics of the different sectors in Panama, taking into account that three years ago the unemployment rate stood at 4.1% and today it is at 5.6%, which worries the experts.
Experts agree that the inability of the Government, the lack of public policies for the informal sector which creates unfair competition and delay in the procedures and building permits have increased unemployment.
Olmedo Estrada, President of the Association of Economists of Panama, said that the scandals on the case "Waked” and Panama Papers have also influenced us negatively in addition to the decline in agriculture, among other sectors, where the staff has been reduced which will cause an increase of unemployment
Suarez, by her part, indicates that the construction sector will not allow the Government to stop their production, because they have the resources and the interest and what they are asking is just be heard, "no more studies are needed, because they already them have", he stressed.
The construction sector hired three years ago about 200 thousand workers directly and today has only hired 136 thousand, i.e. 64 thousand people have been left without a job.
Economist Juan Jované is also of the opinion that the problem that exists cannot be hid since the first solution to a problem is to accept that there is one, so not accepting their mistake.does not do the Government any good.
For the expert, not accepting their mistake has made the activities to be negatively impacted because he considers that 5.6% is a figure that does not tackle problems in the labor market.
He pointed out that, according to figures from the month of March, employment in the private sector fell almost by 2%, indicating that some 10,000 jobs were lost in the private enterprise that is the sector with more formality.
However, the indicator “family worker that does not have a salary” grew by 25%.
"If we put here the quality of employment, the problem is beyond the 5.6%, or if we see it by gender, women who are between 20 and 29 years old, have a level of unemployment of 20%, i.e., there is a problem among young men and women", he said.
While Estrada ensures that the factors that are affecting the rate of unemployment is that Panama is living a situation in which the growth of the economy has seen affected and that is one of the fundamental elements to the unemployment rates also with that same conduct.
Estrada agrees with the other experts in that when there is no growth in the country, the companies stop hiring because it is the dynamic economic movement that allows increasing the production of goods and services that require workforce.
In this case, the economist gave the example of the Colon Free Zone that is has been severely affected and that has had to reduce manpower.
The President of the Association of Users of the Colon Free Zone, Usha Mayani, has highlighted his concern for the future of the free trade zone.
According to Mayani, it is urgent to pay attention to the free zone "for this important emporium of the country represents 7% of the gross domestic product of Panama, and it is worthwhile to support it.
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