Charges Filed Against Union Leaders Because Ministry Of Labor Requested Audit
According to a press release from the Ministry of Labor and Workforce Development (Mitradel), they have requested an audit of the Instituto Panameño de Estudios Laborales (Ipel) (Panamanian Institute of Labor Studies) because that is the entity administering the funds of the education insurance. The minister said that since taking office she has asked the Comptroller General's Office to perform this audit, because the organizations that benefit from the insurance funds could not sustain their expenses. According to the Mitradel, through the "audit a number of varied irregularities were identified that were typified as potential crimes (damage to state property)."
As a result (of the audit), prosecutors brought charges to be investigated against Mariano Mena of the Central General de Trabajadores de Panamá; Alfredo Berrocal of the Federación Nacional de Servidores Públicos; and Víctor Torres of the Convergencia Sindical, among other union leaders, said Mitradel. The minister said they would do the corresponding communications before the International Labor Organization so they will immediately know what is happening to these workers organizations in Panama. (Dia a Dia)












