PANAMA · LABOUR AND PORTS
Key Facts
- —What is happening On Tuesday, 13 October, Panama’s labour ministry seized the accounts receivable of Serviestiba, a port staffing company that is leaving the Balboa and Cristóbal terminals, to secure the benefits of 1,386 workers.
- —Why it matters Serviestiba supplied dockworkers to the two terminals once run by Panama Ports Company, and its exit is the clearest labour fallout yet from the court ruling that ended that concession.
- —The numbers The measure covers 1,386 workers at two terminals, each audited individually by the ministry; the amount of money seized has not been disclosed, and Panama uses the US dollar.
- —Who is who Labour Minister Jackeline Muñoz leads the Ministry of Labour and Workforce Development (Mitradel); APM Terminals now runs Balboa and Terminal Investment Limited (TIL) runs Cristóbal under temporary contracts.
- —What to watch Workers must be released by Serviestiba before the new operators can hire them, unions plan lawsuits, and it is not yet confirmed how many of the 1,386 will keep a job.
- —Power Index Panama ranks 11th of 14 in The Rio Times Latin America Power Index, with 34.2 points (October 2026 edition).
- —What it means for you Port operations at both ends of the Panama Canal have not stopped, so US shippers see no disruption yet, but labour peace at these terminals matters for cargo moving to and from US ports.
Panama’s government has moved to protect the payouts of 1,386 dockworkers as their employer leaves two canal ports. The step follows the court ruling that ended the old port concession.
Panama’s labour ministry has seized the accounts receivable of Serviestiba, a firm that supplied workers to the ports of Balboa and Cristóbal. The order, carried out on Tuesday, 13 October, aims to secure severance and other benefits for 1,386 workers.
The two ports sit at the Pacific and Caribbean ends of the Panama Canal, a key route for US trade. Labour Minister Jackeline Muñoz said port operations have not stopped at any point.
Why Mitradel Seized Serviestiba Funds
The Ministry of Labour and Workforce Development, known as Mitradel, is the government body that enforces Panama’s labour code. Muñoz told Crítica the seizure was ordered by the ministry itself and not requested by any union.
La Prensa quoted her saying the seizure was carried out on the ministry’s own initiative. She said the goal is to secure money for the workers’ benefits and acquired rights.
An account receivable is money that clients still owe a company for work already done. By seizing it, the ministry keeps that money available for worker payouts instead of letting it leave the company.
Muñoz said the company had not told the ministry how it would settle its workers’ situation. Mitradel carried out an individual labour audit of all 1,386 workers and asked Serviestiba to review its benefit figures.
Who Serviestiba Is and Why It Is Leaving
Serviestiba supplied stevedores and other port labour at Balboa, on the Pacific side, and Cristóbal, in Colón on the Caribbean side. It worked within the outsourcing scheme used by Panama Ports Company, the former concession holder at both terminals.
Panama Ports Company belongs to Hong Kong’s CK Hutchison group and ran the two terminals for decades. Panama’s Supreme Court struck down the law behind its concession, in a ruling published on 23 February 2026.
After that ruling, the two terminals passed to new operators on temporary contracts. APM Terminals Panamá, part of Denmark’s Maersk group, runs Balboa, while Terminal Investment Limited, linked to the MSC shipping line, runs Cristóbal.
Serviestiba announced an orderly closure of its operations on 13 October, La Prensa reported. The company said it would respect its workers’ acquired rights under current labour law.
What Happens to the 1,386 Workers
Serviestiba has told the ministry that the next fortnightly payroll is guaranteed, both newspapers reported. Muñoz did not give a payment date beyond saying the money would arrive soon.
The government has held talks with APM Terminals and Terminal Investment Limited about hiring the workers. Both operators have shown interest, but the workers must first be released from their Serviestiba posts.
Muñoz called the handover a process that will take time. She also said unions have signalled that they intend to file lawsuits, though none has been reported as filed.
What It Means for US Readers
Balboa and Cristóbal handle containers moving through the Panama Canal, which carries a large share of trade to and from US ports. A labour dispute at these terminals could slow cargo if talks with the new operators break down.
For now, the minister says operations continue normally, so US importers and exporters face no disruption. The handover also matters to Washington, which has watched the Hutchison-run ports closely over concerns about Chinese influence.
What Is Not Known
Neither the ministry nor the company has said how much money the seizure covers. The total of severance and benefits owed to the 1,386 workers has also not been published.
Crítica reported that Serviestiba’s services end this Friday, 16 October, but no second outlet has confirmed that date. It is also not known how many of the workers the new operators will hire, or which unions plan to sue.
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Panama’s labour ministry do?
It seized the accounts receivable of Serviestiba, a port staffing company, on Tuesday, 13 October. The aim is to secure severance and benefits for 1,386 workers.
What is Serviestiba?
It is a company that supplied dockworkers to the ports of Balboa and Cristóbal. It worked within the outsourcing scheme of Panama Ports Company, the former operator.
Have Panama’s ports stopped working?
No, Labour Minister Jackeline Muñoz said operations have not stopped at any point. APM Terminals runs Balboa and Terminal Investment Limited runs Cristóbal.
Will the workers get new jobs?
Both new operators have shown interest in hiring them once Serviestiba releases them. It is not yet known how many of the 1,386 workers will be hired.
Sources: La Prensa (Panamá); Crítica, 14 October; Crítica, 13 October (all accessed 14 October 2026).
Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief · Editorial standards · Report an error