On the day the President of the Republic of Panama is sworn in, how is it paid?
Oriel Castillo
Article forty-six (46) of the Panamanian Labor Code establishes which are the mandatory rest days, indicating the categories of national holidays or national mourning.
In the particular case of days off for national holidays, the following are established:
- January 1st
- Shrove Tuesday
- May 1st
- November 3 and 5
- November 10 and 28
- December 8 and 25 and
- The day the president-elect of the Republic of Panama takes office.
In the latter case, the new president of the Republic of Panama will be sworn in on July 1, two thousand twenty-four (2024); since it is a national holiday, it is considered a day of mandatory rest, and therefore no work is done.
In the event that due to the nature of the service a worker needs to work that day, the employer must pay a surcharge of one hundred and fifty percent (150%) on the salary, without prejudice to the worker's right to enjoy another day of rest, this is what is commonly known as payment or remuneration of two and a half times.
In the event that the day granted as compensation to the employee for having worked on a national holiday, as is the case of July one (1), two thousand and twenty-four (2024), the surcharge of fifty percent (50%) of the regular working day shall be paid.
Important
If the holiday coincides with the worker's mandatory rest day, the worker shall be entitled to be granted any other day of the week as compensation.
