During the last five years the number of workers affiliated to the social insurance scheme increased by 35%, rising from 673 thousand in 2013 to 914 thousand in 2017.
According to figures from the Central Bank of Nicaragua, in the five-year period between 2013 and 2017, the affiliation of workers to the Nicaraguan Institute of Social Security (INSS) registered sustained growth, reporting an average annual increase of 8%.
The electricity and agriculture sectors were responsible for the year-on-year increase of 4% registered in the number of workers affiliated with the social insurance scheme up to December 2017.
From a report by the Central Bank of Nicaragua:
The Central Bank of Nicaragua (BCN) published on February 9, 2018 statistics on the labor market (employment and salary), corresponding to the month of December 2017.
In January 2018 the Ministry of Labor registered 24,508 labor contracts, 21% more than those reported in the same month in 2017.
The economic activity that registered the highest number of contracts in January 2018 was construction with 9,848, followed by wholesale and retail trade that added 5,201, and thirdly, administrative activities and support services with 2,648.
Agriculture and electricity were the sectors that accounted for most of the year-on-year growth of 5% in the affiliation of workers to the social insurance scheme.
From a report by the Central Bank of Nicaragua:
On January 19, 2018, the Central Bank of Nicaragua (BCN) published statistics on the labor market (employment and salary) for the month of November 2017.
The fall recorded in employment contracts signed between 2016 and 2017 contrasts with the increase of 5% reported between 2015 and 2016.
According to figures from the Panamanian Ministry of Labor and Labor Development, from January to December 2017, 283,358 contracts were registered at the entity's headquarters, of which 122,169 were for a fixed term, 85,573 for specific works and 75,616 for an indefinite period.
In September 2017, private sector companies registered 5,288 fewer jobs than in the same month in 2016.
According to the Salvadoran Association of Industrialists (ASI), the main reduction in formal employment was recorded in professional, technical and administrative services, falling 9.2%.
In the furniture manufacturing sector, there was a decrease of 472 jobs, and according to the vice-president of the ASI, Carmen Aída de Meardi, "... imports of finished products from China is what is affecting them."
Commerce, hotels and restaurants were the sectors that accounted for most of the year-on-year growth of 5.7% in the affiliation of workers with the social insurance scheme.
From a report by the Central Bank of Nicaragua:
The Central Bank of Nicaragua (BCN) published, on December 11, 2017, statistics on the labor market (employment and salary) corresponding to the month of October.
Between January and September, 327,000 work contracts were registered, 4% less than the 341,000 reported in the same period in 2016.
Data from a report by the Comptroller General of the Republic corresponding to the period January - September shows that with respect to the same period in 2016, defined contracts fell by only 0.3%, those for specific projects fell by 12.7%, and indefinite contracts were reduced by 13%.
The sectors of construction and trade, hotels and restaurants, accounted for most of the year-on-year increase of almost 7% in the affiliation of workers to the social insurance scheme in August 2017.
From a report by the Central Bank of Nicaragua:
On October 10, 2017, the Central Bank of Nicaragua (BCN) published statistics on the labor market (employment and wages) for the month of August.
Fines of up to $10 thousand and the definitive cancellation of the notice of operations are some of the sanctions included in the new law against illegal recruitment of foreign employees.
From a statement issued by the National Assembly of Panama:
As a legal tool to curb human exploitation of immigrants by companies, fines will be increased, a definitive cancellation of the notice of operations has been proposed, sanctions will be doubled if the number of workers exceeds ten, and the situation occurring within these establishments will be made public.
Entrepreneurs have proposed increasing the proportion of foreign personnel that can be legally contracted by companies operating in the country, from 15% to 20%.
Lack of personnel with the qualifications demanded by local companies and the multinationals that decide to settle in Panama is the main reason behind the proposal put forward by the business sector to authorize the hiring of more foreign staff.
Between January and April 91 thousand work contracts were registered, 6% less than the 97 thousand reported in the same period in 2016.
Data in the report for the first quarter by the Comptroller General of the Republic indicates that with respect to the same period in 2016, fixed term contracts increased by 3.9%, those for specific pieces of work decreased by 3.6%, and indefinite contracts were reduced by 21%.
In the first quarter of the year there were 71 thousand work contracts, 3% more than the 68 thousand reported in the same period in 2016.
Data from the quarterly report by the Comptroller General of the Republic indicates that in the same period in 2016, fixed term contracts increased by 8.4%, contracts for a specific project or service by 1.1%, while open ended contracts went down by 2, 6%.
At the end of the first quarter, there were 71,043 new employment contracts, 3% more than in the same period in 2016.
The latest report by the Comptroller General of the Republic states that in March, 28,355 new labor contracts were registered with the Ministry of Labor, 22% more than in March of the previous year.
The Ministry of Labor is preparing a bill to regulate how companies can carry out part-time hiring, starting in February 2018.
The draft law being prepared by the government will allow the establishment of conditions for part time jobs starting in February next year, when the 175th Labor Organization Convention,approved in January of this year, comes into force.