The Minimum Wage Commission

in consideration of the different suggestions made by the productive labor sectors in the national area, recommended unifying and comparing the workers of the public sector in the Republic of Panama, in order to avoid Workers earning less than the legal minimum wage.
With this raise, 110 thousand workers from the Private Sector in the whole country, who earn minimum salary, will be able to acquire the products of the food basic basket, but not to cover any additional expenses resulted from the consumption of electric power, drinkable water, clothing and transportation, among others.
According to the last report of the Commission of Free Competition and Matters of the Consumer (CLICAC), the cost of the food basket until June was 185.33 dollars. Nevertheless, the cost of the food basket one year ago was 221.03 dollars Based on information provided by the Department of Economy and Finance (MEF),
That’s why the comparisons made between the costs of the basic basket, the life basket and the minimum wage “is negative ", since the majority of the population lacks economic resources for the satisfaction of their basic needs.
The basic family food basket, is defined as “the set of food expressed in efficient quantities to satisfy, at least, the needs of calories – energies, an average Family taking a population as reference, respecting their habits of consumption ". This basic Family basket of consumption required by all Panamanians to satisfy their family needs, exceeds B/. 500.00 monthly dollars besides food, Education Cost, Health, shelter and services, which are not included.
Not being able to cover the basic needs of life leads the majority of the individuals to situations of conflict in an intrapersonal level, which reverberates in the dynamics of their relations, especially in the family and labor level. The lack of resources for the satisfaction of the basic needs can be a generic point of psychological disorders, as anxiety, stress and depression, among others.
The search of the satisfaction of the needs, explains in certain way the behavior of an individual in certain moments, the dissatisfaction of the above mentioned needs puts individual’s life in danger. As a relevant aspect, the basic basket considers the nourishing needs alone, leaving aside one of the fundamental aspects for every Human Been: “Shelter”
The basic basket must include, in addition, recreation, because “if we do not possess resources in order that the family could cover this need, then we are not fulfilling the social part established by the Family basic basket ". The Chamber of Trade “does not agree with the [recent] increase of the minimum wage, because the economic growth of the country has been "very 'sublime" during the first quarter” With the increase of the price of the oil, recently quoted in 96,7 dollars on the international markets, the value of the fuel and the cost of life in Panama will continue increasing, Since Both, the Fuel distribution chains, and food merchants, will continue readjusting the price of the oil and of the main Products of the Family food basket. To avoid this enormous price increase of the main products of the family Basic Basket (rice, meat, milk, beans, oil and bread.), the government must apply a rational controls. This demonstrates that is necessary to readjust the minimum wage, which today is 285 monthly dollars, because the cost of life has exceed the income of the average citizens, leaving them Without buying power.
The economic growth projections that Panama is experiencing with more than 8 per cent, must be useful to fill the social gap that overwhelms 40 per cent of the population, who is fighting against poverty.

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