Pensions strike in Panama

Construction workers, teachers and health workers were among thousands who went on strike yesterday in Panama, saying they wouldn’t return to work until the government withdrew a proposal to increase the retirement age.

Some 50 union and other groups united to protest the pension changes, although the country’s business owners and public transportation employees were not among them.

The strike brought construction sites, the banana industry, schools and even medical facilities to a halt. Hospital officials said they were still attending to emergency cases.

President Martin Torrijos has proposed rescuing Panama’s troubled pension system by raising the minimum retirement age for men from 62 to 65, and for women from 57 to 62.

Torrijos’ proposal would also require workers to have 20 years of payroll contributions to the social security system, instead of the current 15 years, in order to retire with a pension.