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Panamanian Social Security
Reforms Postponed
The reform law for the
Panamanian Social Security Fund
(CSS) was postponed Wednesday
for 90 days, after promulgation
by decree in the Official
Gazette.
A communiqué from the Panamanian
Presidency said that the measure
reactivated the system existing
before June 2, when the
regulation became effective.
Social sectors have condemned
the controversial law that
regulates the increase of
retirement age from 57 years to
60 for women and from 62 to 65
years for men until 2015, and
raises retirement quotas from
180 to 300.
On Tuesday, Andres Rodriguez,
coordinator of the National
Front in Defense of the CSS,
said his organisation would
participate in talks with the
government to try to resolve the
crisis.
The front, which includes
people's and union
organizations, staged strikes
against the reform from May 27
to June 27, and forced the
administration to the
negotiating table.
President Martin Torrijos said
the talks would allow revision
of aspects of the reform law,
which will be reactivated after
90 days.
Officials and business people,
retired people and unions are
participating in the talks,
mediated by the Council of
University Rectors.
Government officials said the
CSS should be reformed because
its financial deficit of 4.5
billion USD may lead to a
collapse by 2012.
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