The Government is relying on a consensus between the parties, but private enterprise and workers have very different proposals.
Although he did not specify the amount, Gabriel Diez, president of Conep said that "the business sector's proposal achieves the objective of establishing the highest minimum wage in the Latin American region."
For their part, the unions are proposing "an average minimum wage of $735 per month, a figure which they state reflects not only the increased cost of the basic basket of food and other essential basic services needed to meet the needs of an average family" , reports Capital.com.pa.
Businesses are warning that raising the minimum wage to a level higher than proposed will make the prices of goods and services more expensive, generating inflation.
The National Council of Private Enterprise (CONEP) confirmed that it has submitted a proposal to adjust the minimum wage. "The proposal from the business sector meets the objective of establishing the highest minimum wage in the region," said Gabriel Diez, president of CONEP.
In Panama the scheme which provides financing with preferential interest rates is a major factor in the growth of mortgage loans.
With the enactment of Act 3 of 1985, which established a system of interest rates in certain mortgage loans, residential mortgage financing has shown good performance. It has also supported the construction sector as a way to reduce the housing deficit in the country.
The private sector has proposed that free competition in the generation market be maintained and it not be regulated and that there be a permanent plan to promote energy savings.
From a press release issued by the Presidency of Panama:
The Energy Agency Committee, comprising of representatives from the private sector, handed over to the Presidency Minister, Roberto Henriquez, a proposal to make the energy market in Panama more dynamic and economical.
Panama is looking for a private partner to invest $600 million in the construction of the hydroelectric station Changuinola II.
"... Over the next few days, the government will put out to tender a contract for a private company to take over the construction of the hydroelectric station Changuinola II (Chan II), which is currently in the hands of state electricity company Edesa."
At the 2011 edition of the real estate fair, the most sought for projects were "social housing" solutions, with prices up to $100.000.
Gabriel Díaz, head of the organizing committee, explained that the event's exhibitors registered 36% more transactions than its previous iteration, and was visited by 30.000 people.
The Panamanian Construction Chamber (CAPAC) is also preparing "Expo Habitat 2011", which will take place in Atlapa Conventions Center and will be of similar scale as "Expo Vivienda".
The project would allow developers who have unsold or unrented properties to pay lesser fees for maintenance costs.
The new law provides that said maintenance fees will be calculated using a different percentage than the rest of the owners, but it may not be lower than 20%.
Roberto Gonzalez reported the statements of Legislator Teresita de Arias and Gabriel Diez, Minister of Housing, in his article in Prensa.com: “It does not seem fair that if a developer keeps a part of the project for himself, he can decide not to pay or even pay less than the rest of the neighbors since those properties use the services of the building, even if they are not occupied,” said the Legislator. Diez said that “developers don’t have to pay anything for empty dwellings at this time. The new law requires them to pay at least 20%.”
The ACOBIR Real Estate Expo 2009, from July 22 - 26, hopes to attract around 1 thousand foreign and 15 thousand local visitors.
The event, organized by the Panamanian Association of Brokers (ACOBIR), will be attended by over 140 exhibitors, forums and national and international speakers.
In an article in Prensa.com, the president of ACOBIR, Osvaldo Marchena, states that…
The project by the Construction Chamber is a subsidy on interest rates for new home purchases with a value not to exceed $63,000.
La Prensa Grafica published on its website: "'CASALCO (Salvadoran Construction Industry Chamber) has taken a law which is in effect in Panama as a model. The proposal is for financial institutions to grant a subsidy on mortgage loans for individuals through interest rates.
The low-cost housing market is becoming more attractive in Panama, and is aided by the preferential interest rates for new homes with a cost that is lower than $80 thousand.
According to the article in La Estrella (www.laestrella.com) "the head of the Ministry of Housing (MIVI), Gabriel Diez, proposes that they direct future construction towards projects that are within the margin of preferential interest rates.