As a result of the economic crisis during June 2020 the number of workers contributing to the Salvadoran Social Security Institute decreased to 810 thousand, in the following months the figures improved and in March 2021 the figure rose to 861 thousand.
According to the report corresponding to March 2021 of the Salvadoran Social Security Institute (ISSS), the different economic activities report a sustained recovery, especially the sectors that were mostly affected by the economic downturn such as commerce, restaurants, hotels and services.
For the mobile quarter from December 2020 to February 2021, the unemployment rate in the country decreased to 18.5%, a proportion that is slightly lower than the 19% reported for the period from November to January last year.
In this quarter, the unemployed population was 452 thousand people, an increase of 142 thousand people compared to the same mobile quarter of the previous year, informed the National Institute of Statistics and Census (INEC).
The business sector opposes the bill that intends to stimulate the economy and local tourism, through the establishment of mandatory rest days and salary surcharges on the days of national events.
This is Bill 487, which is called "Adopting a temporary regime of economic, cultural and national tourism stimulus, through the establishment of mandatory rest days and salary surcharges on national event days", which was presented to the Panamanian Assembly on September 28, 2020.
As a result of the crisis caused by the covid-19 outbreak, during the second quarter of 2020 the unemployment rate at national level rose to 24%, for the period from July to September it decreased to 22% and in the last three months of the year it fell to 20%.
Regarding the unemployed population, for the IV Quarter of 2020 it was estimated at 488 thousand people, of these 240 thousand are men and 248 thousand women, the unemployed population increased by 178 thousand people on a year-on-year basis, 97 thousand men and 81 thousand women, informed the National Institute of Statistics and Census (INEC).
Due to the economic crisis it is estimated that by the end of 2020 Panama will have 400 thousand new unemployed and the unemployment rate will climb to 25%, assuming that the country generates between 45 thousand to 50 thousand jobs annually, it will take about eight years for the recovery to take place.
The outbreak of covid-19 caused a serious economic crisis in the country, since due to the spread of the disease the authorities have decreed severe home quarantines, mobility restrictions and have limited some productive activities.
By the fourth quarter of 2020, 21% of companies in the country expect to reduce their payrolls, a proportion that is higher than the 14% registered in the third quarter of this year, a rise that is explained by the economic crisis generated by the covid-19.
Panamanian employers report negative hiring expectations for the October-December period. Three percent of the employers expect to increase their workforce, however, 21 percent expect to reduce it, while 68 percent remain unchanged, resulting in a Net Employment Trend of -18%.
As part of the process of reopening the Panamanian economy, it is estimated that in the last two weeks close to 90,000 work contracts have been reactivated, which represents 30% of the suspended labor agreements.
Due to the outbreak of covid-19 and the restrictions imposed by the Panamanian authorities on most economic activities, from March to date about 292 thousand labor contracts have been suspended.
In the context of the economic crisis, it is estimated that companies in Central America have reduced the working hours of employees to an average of 32 hours per week.
As a result of the spread of covid-19 in the countries of the region and the imposition of strict home quarantines, demand for products and services has fallen considerably in most markets.
In the context of the health and economic crisis in the country, some 54% of the country's companies have suspended work due to lack of market demand.
The results of a survey carried out by the Superior Council of Private Enterprise (COSEP) and the International Labor Organization (ILO), indicate that in this scenario of economic contraction, in the Nicaraguan market 33% of the companies surveyed have had to lay off workers and there are 40% who are also thinking of laying off workers.
In Panama, the Ministry of Labor has again extended for 30 days the provision that allows companies in the country to suspend the contracts of their employees.
By Executive Decree No.97 of May 29, 2020 and in the scenario of the crisis caused by covid-19, the temporary suspension of the effects of labor contracts is extended for the second time.
Given the threat of a deepening economic recession in the country, resulting from the outbreak of covid-19, it is estimated that by the end of the year the open unemployment rate could rise to 9.2%.
In the context of the health crisis, an increase in poverty levels will also be reported, and the GDP per capita indicator will decrease, explains the "Informe de Coyuntura, Abril 2020", prepared by the Nicaraguan Foundation for Economic and Social Development (Funides).
The partial suspension of employment contracts and social security payments are some of the proposals made by employers in Costa Rica to maintain employment levels in the face of the spread of the Covid-19.
Representatives of the Costa Rican Union of Chambers and Associations of the Private Business Sector (UCCAEP), predict that if urgent actions are delayed, unemployment could rise from 12% to 19%.
Because the private sector believes that the conditions to formalize companies and generate new jobs do not exist, the employers are urging the government to declare an emergency due to the unemployment situation.
It is estimated that only 33,000 new jobs were generated in the country last year, which includes jobs in companies and government institutions.
Between 2018 and 2019, the unemployment rate in the country did not vary significantly, falling by just 0.3% from 2.8% to 2.5%.
Data from the 2019 National Income and Employment Survey (ENEI 1), prepared by the National Statistics Institute (INE), show that at the time of the survey the unemployed population was 179,000, down from 194,000 in the ENEI I of 2018.
Costa Rican businessmen warn that the government's decision to standardize wages in 2020 will lead to more unemployment, affect workers with less education and reduce competitiveness even further.
For the business sector is imprudent to approve and implement the wage standardization in 2020, since it will have a strong impact on productive sectors such as agriculture, trade, transport, tourism and construction, explains a statement from the UCCAEP.