Superintendencia de Sujetos No Financieros emite nueva reglamentación para abogados y contadores públicos autorizados
Panamá, 24 de julio de 2020.
Mediante el Acuerdo JD-01-2020, publicado en Gaceta Oficial No. 29076 del 24 de julio de 2020, la Superintendencia de Sujetos No Financieros (SSNF) ha establecido un conjunto de nuevos lineamientos y directrices a los abogados y contadores públicos autorizados, cuando en el ejercicio de su actividad profesional realicen algunas de las actividades sujetas a supervisión contempladas en la Ley 23 de 2015 que adopta medidas para prevenir el blanqueo de capitales, el financiamiento del terrorismo y el financiamiento de la proliferación de armas de destrucción masiva.
A continuación, resumimos algunos puntos relevantes sobre esta nueva reglamentación:
Acceso a la información de clientes
El artículo 3 del Acuerdo JD-01-2020 establece que los abogados y contadores públicos autorizados supervisados por la SSNF en el ejercicio de las actividades profesionales supervisadas, deberán, a requerimiento de la SSNF, entregar un listado de clientes clasificados en términos cualitativos y cuantitativos, atendiendo al enfoque basado en riesgo. Los clientes con los cuales se haya terminado la relación comercial deberán ser incluidos en tal listado con explicación del motivo de la terminación de la relación comercial.
Durante la supervisión, se deberán suministrar los documentos que sustenten la relación con cada cliente (incluyendo contratos, acuerdos, convenios, etc.), así como documentación de las medidas de debida diligencia y de control aplicadas.
Medidas de Debida Diligencia
Los artículos 6 y 7 del Acuerdo JD-01-2020 establecen los requisitos de las medidas de debida diligencia (ampliada o reforzada) para los casos de persona natural y persona jurídica, que deberán requerir los contadores públicos autorizados y abogados, en los escenarios que la Ley 23 de 2015 requiera la aplicación de tal medida en atención de casos de alto riesgo.
La nueva reglamentación también establece un listado de los clientes que pueden ser objeto de medidas simplificadas en el marco de las actividades profesionales supervisadas ejercidas por abogados y contadores públicos autorizados, lo cual es algo que no había sido regulado en el reglamento anterior.
Directores o Apoderados
Los abogados y contadores públicos autorizados deberán, por requerimiento, revelar a la SSNF la identidad de las personas que utilizan para designar u ofrecer los servicios de directores nominales (nominees) a sus clientes.
El Acuerdo JD-01-2020 derogó y dejó sin efecto la Resolución JD-14-2015 y sus modificaciones, que constituían la reglamentación original aplicable a las actividades profesionales reguladas.
Para más información o asesoría relacionada con este tema favor contactar a:
Pablo Epifanio
Asociado Senior, Morgan & Morgan
[email protected]
- Publicado en Pablo Epifanio, 2020, Press Room, Publicaciones
Guía de Mercado de Valores de Chambers & Partners 2020
Panamá, 9 de marzo de 2019. Los socios Francisco Arias, Ricardo Arias, y la asociada Cristina De Roux, contribuyeron con su experiencia profesional sobre la actividad del mercado de valores en Panamá.
La versión en línea del capítulo de Panamá está disponible aquí.
O puede descargar la opción PDF aquí.
- Publicado en Cristina De Roux, Francisco Arias, Press Room, Publicaciones, Ricardo Arias
A look at the compliance measures applicable to the Stock Market
Pablo Epifanio, Senior Associate, Morgan & Morgan
The stock market is undoubtedly one of the most important economic forces in the world. Every year, billions of dollars are moved through stock exchange operations, and year after year, in most jurisdictions, the stock market is promoted as a tool for financing or capturing capital for issuers and as an investment for thousands of participants seeking to place their funds in higher yield investments.
Thus, it is not unreasonable to foresee that although the stock market has had such a positive and important purpose, and in which transactions are increasingly sophisticated and complex, may be used for illicit purposes, particularly those related to financial crimes, including laundering of assets, financing of terrorist groups, among others.
This article succinctly analyzes the implications and scope of the compliance measures established in Agreement 6-2015 adopted by the Superintendency of the Securities Market of Panama, based on Law 23 of April 27, 2015, by which measures are being taken to prevent money laundering, financing of terrorism and financing of the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (the “Compliance Act”).
Regulatory Framework for Compliance Measures in Panama
The Compliance Act approved in 2015, regulated by Executive Decree No. 363 of August 13, 2015, which adopts measures that allow entities regulated under it to prevent the use of their platforms and businesses for purposes related to the crimes of money laundering, financing of terrorism and financing of the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.
The Compliance Act classifies those regulated entities: regulated non-financial entities, regulated financial entities and professional activities subject to supervision. The Compliance Act within the regulated financial entities includes the majority of the participants in the securities market, establishing that the provisions of the same apply to:
a) Self-regulated organizations;
b) Securities Firms;
c) Investment Managers;
d) Pension Fund Management;
e) Unemployment Fund Management;
f) Investment Companies;
g) Self-Managed Investment Companies;
h) Investment Advisers; and
i) Administrative Service Providers of the Securities Market.
An important fact to note is that the Compliance Act, Executive Decree 363 and Agreement 6-2015 do not include the issuers of securities registered with the Superintendency of the Securities Market within their scope of application. This is likely to be the case, since most of the essential intermediaries to carry out a public offering and issuance of securities are subject to regulations, including custodians, payment agents, brokerage firms and investment advisors, they are, in short, those that have a direct relationship with investors. At the same time, the issuer would unlikely be able to properly and efficiently apply due diligence measures to investors with whom it usually does not have direct contact.
The Compliance Act seeks more than anything to establish the regulatory framework applicable to regulated entities in order to facilitate the adequate identification of customers with a risk-based approach, detect funds of illicit origin, establish guidelines regarding the due diligence that regulated entities must applied to their customers, in terms of the application of the “know your customer” policy and encourage the adoption of risk policies.
For the purposes of accurately understanding the applicable legislation on compliance, it is important to keep in mind the definition of “customer” under the Compliance Act: “natural or legal person, as defined by the legal provisions that apply for each economic or professional activity indicated in the Law, with which the regulated financial entities, regulated non-financial entities and activities carried out by professionals subject to supervision establish, maintain or have maintained, in an usual or occasional manner, a contractual, professional or business relationship for the supply of any product or services inherent to its activity.”
Lastly, the Compliance Act empowers the respective regulatory authorities for the activities carried out by the different regulated entities to oversee the compliance with the Compliance Act and adopt regulations that adjust to the reality of each regulated activity.
- Sectoral Regulation Applicable to the Securities Market
The Superintendency of the Securities Market has adopted Agreement 6-2015 of August 19, 2015 (the “Agreement 6-2015”), through which it issued the provisions applicable to regulated financial entities supervised by the Superintendency of the Securities Market, to the prevention of the crimes of money laundering, financing of terrorism and financing of the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.
The regulated financial entities supervised by the Superintendency of Securities Market under Agreement 6-2015 have the obligation to maintain due diligence and care in their operations in order to reasonably prevent such operations from being carried out with funds from activities related to the crimes of money laundering, financing of terrorism and financing of the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.
Thus, the regulated entities under the supervision of the Superintendency of the Securities Market must have the mechanisms, policies and methodologies required to manage the risk of money laundering, financing of terrorism and financing of the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, taking in consideration factors such as: the risk profile of the activity exercised by the regulated entity, the profile and types of customers of the regulated entitity, the products and services offered by the regulated entity, the distribution or commercialization channels used by the regulated entity, the location of the facilities of the regulated entity, of its customers and final beneficiaries, and the risk of the custodian or correspondent services of the regulated entity.
For the evaluation of the factors described above, regulated entities must apply a “risk-based approach”, which is nothing more than an understanding of the level of risk according to their nature, in order to focus their efforts effectively. Thus, regulated entities subject to supervision must classify their customers by applying a risk-based approach to: (i) high risk customers, (ii) moderate risk customers and (iii) low risk customers; and they should review this classification at least once a year. With this approach in mind, the regulation gives certain entities flexibility to assess the risks in the services they provide, so that they can apply reinforced measures against major risks, basic measures against usual risks and simplified measures against minor risks, managing and / or mitigating risks, as the case may be.
Agreement 6-2015 specifically establishes the minimum information and documentation that should be requested and verified from customers, both for natural and legal persons, as part of the simplified due diligence that regulated entities subject to supervision of the Superintendency of the Securities Market must apply, which include: complete general information, a copy of the customer’s identification, bank and commercial references, support of funds, detail of activities to which he / she is dedicated, among others.
For the purposes of simplified due diligence in the case of legal persons, Agreement 6-2015 seeks to fully identify the final beneficiary of the legal entity and imposes measures and requirements to be obtained from each customer that is a legal entity for that purpose. For the purposes of the final beneficiary, Agreement 6-2015 states that it shall be understood as such, any natural person who individually or by common agreement with other persons, directly or indirectly, is the owner or has the right to exercise the vote with respect to ten percent (10%) or more of the issued and outstanding shares of a legal entity. In addition to the foregoing, the following must also be fully identified: (i) in the case of companies: the administrators, representatives, attorneys-in-fact and signatories of the legal entity; (ii) in the case of private interest foundations: the members of the founding council, founder and protector; and in the case of trusts: the trustee and the trustor.
Agreement 6-2015 establishes that regulated entities under it will have to apply full-range or enhanced due diligence measures for their customers or activities that may represent a high risk, in order to deepen the information of this type of customers. The Superintendency of the Securities Market, as well as other regulators of activities under the Compliance Act, has issued a guide of indicators of suspicious operations and activities in order that the regulated entities can identify high risk customers and timely apply the measures of full-range due diligence.
Among the types of customers that should be subject to full-range or enhanced due diligence, we have, among others:
a) Natural or legal persons or related business persons with natural or legal persons domiciled or incorporated in jurisdictions considered high risk by national or foreign organizations;
b) Individuals or legal entities that appear in national or foreign lists related to the prevention of money laundering, financing of terrorism and financing of the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction;
c) Politically exposed persons (PEP), close relatives and close collaborators;
d) Legal persons that receive or offer the correspondent service, with special attention to those domiciled in jurisdictions that have not effectively implemented the recommendations regarding the prevention of money laundering, terrorist financing and financing of the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction;
e) Businesses with a high volume of operations in cash or quasi-cash; and
f) Businesses with a high volume of international transfers to and from countries and high-risk countries that have not implemented the recommendations regarding the prevention of money laundering crimes, financing of terrorism and financing the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.
When applying full-range or enhanced due diligence measures, regulated entities supervised by the Superintendency of the Securities Market shall require the same information and minimum documentation established for simplified due diligence, and in addition shall: (i) obtain the approval of senior management at the beginning of the business relationship; (ii) update the records of information and documentation, at least one (1) time each semester; (iii) continuous intensified monitoring throughout the commercial relationship and / or (iv) apply any other measure determined by the senior management of the regulated entity.
Simplified due diligence is the most basic policy, procedures and measures defined in the Compliance Act that may be applied by regulated entities to their customers, and are only applicable if in accordance with the risk policies of the regulated entities, based on a risk approach, it is determined that the customers to apply it are of low risk.
Executive Decree No. 363, which regulates the Compliance Act, expressly establishes the simplified due diligence measures allowed to regulated entities:
a) Reduce the documentary review process;
b) Reduce the frequency of customer identification updates; and
c) Reduce the monitoring of the business relationship and the scrutiny of operations that do not exceed the minimum amount established by supervisory bodies.
Although it does not appear so, simplified measures significantly reduce the economic and managerial burden of due diligence measures for regulated entities, especially in cases where it is evident that the business relationship is not or can not be used for illicit purposes.
An important point to be highlighted is Article 28 of the Compliance Act that establishes that the regulated entities – whether they are intermediaries or not in the securities market – will apply simplified due diligence measures to their customers that are legal persons and are listed in a stock exchange recognized by the Superintendency of the Securities Market. That is, to the issuers of common shares or participation quotas, which are duly registered in the Superintendency of the Securities Market and listed on a stock exchange, simplified due diligence measures will be applied by law. Therefore, regulated intermediaries may apply their simplified due diligence measures to their issuing customers, provided that the before mentioned comply with the conditions established in Article 28 of the Compliance Act.
The main purpose of the compliance regulation in question is based more than anything on prevention, that is why in cases where a customer of a regulated entity does not facilitate compliance with the relevant measures of due diligence, the regulated entity may not open the account or start the business relationship or make the proposed transaction.
Agreement 6-2015 establishes that any new account or commercial relationship must comply with the evaluation of the financial and transactional profile of the customer, in order to measure the risk of the products or services offered. For these purposes, “financial profile” means “the result of the analysis of a set of socioeconomic and demographic characteristics and variables that are presented by a customer and verified by the regulated entity at the time of opening the account or beginning of the business relationship; and that it must be enriched with updated and historical information, with the purpose of establishing the common practice that the customer will maintain with the regulated entity.”
Basically, the analysis and processing of the financial documentation required in the course of the simplified or enhanced due diligence measures gives rise to the financial profile that the regulated entity must develop for each customer. On the other hand, the “transactional profile” refers to the “contrast between the financial profile and the frequency and capacity of a customer’s actual transaction in one or several periods of time.”
In conclusion, the obligation of each regulated entity supervised by the Superintendency of the Securities Market is to perform an analysis based on criteria in terms of capacity and financial transaction volume of each customer and then make the contrast between said analysis and the reality of each case.
Agreement 6-2015 establishes two important obligations in regards to the employees of the regulated entities supervised by the Superintendency of the Securities Market: the first obligation is to have a “Know Your Employee” policy, which seeks that regulated entities have personnel selection procedures and supervise the behaviour of their employees, especially those who perform positions related to customer management, fund management, control of information and other important controls. It is also important that regulated entities establish a profile of this type of employees, which shall be updated at least once a year.
The second obligation of the regulated entities in regards to their employees is the obligation to carry out continuous and specific trainings at least once a year, to the employees with roles related to the management, communication and handling of customer and supplier relationships, receipt of funds, transaction processing, product design and services, compliance, risk, human resources, technology and internal auditing in a way that allows them to be updated on the different types, cases and regulations of money laundering, terrorism financing and financing of the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.
One of the most important tools that the Compliance Act and the Agreement 6-2015 gives to the regulated entities supervised by the Superintendency of the Securities Market are the Suspicious Operations Reports (ROS) and the Unusual Operations Reports (ROI) to the Financial Analysis Unit (UAF). Many times we tend to use these terms as synonyms when they are different and have different implications.
“Suspicious operation” is understood as an operation that can not be justified or sustained against the financial or transactional profile of the customer or that which may be related to illicit purposes. On the other hand, “unusual operation” is understood to be one that is not consistent with a financial or transactional profile declared by the customer or that exceeds the parameters set by the regulated entity in the due diligence process performed on the customer, and that consequently must be justified.
Thus, unusual operation means in short an alert for the regulated entity that the operation is not regular, based on the expected behavior of the customer or exceeds the criteria set for the customer in terms of financial capacity or volume of transactions, and the customer must be required to sustain the operation. Suspicious operation, on the other hand, is one that has no way to be justified or that can reasonably be considered to be linked to the crimes of money laundering, financing of terrorism and financing of the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.
Executive Decree No. 363 that regulates the Compliance Act establishes that the regulated entities must have measures that allow the timely detection of unusual operations in order to analyze them and rule out or corroborate the unusual operation. Unusual operations that can not be corroborated or verified according to the customer’s profile may be reported by the regulated entity as suspicious transactions.
In addition, operations suspected of being related to the crimes of money laundering, financing of terrorism, financing of the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction shall be reported as suspicious transactions to the Financial Analysis Unit within 15 calendar days from the detection of the event, transaction, operation or control failure.
In addition, the regulated entities have the obligation to report transactions in cash or quasi-cash, for amounts exceeding the sum of Ten Thousand Dollars (US$10,000.00), legal currency of the United States of America, within the first 10 business days of each month. “Quasi-cash” means, for these purposes, cashier’s checks, travel checks, orders issued to bearer, multiple endorsements, blank endorsements, and other negotiable documents.
All reports to the Financial Analysis Unit must be made through the compliance officer, who will be the liaison person with said entity in regards to the regulated entities supervised by the Superintendency of the Securities Market.
Agreement 6-2015 establishes the obligation for regulated entities supervised by the Superintendency of the Securities Market to adopt, through its Board of Directors, a Prevention Manual that must be reviewed at least one (1) time a year and must contain at least:
1) Mechanism, policies and methodologies for administration and policies for mitigating the risk of money laundering, financing of terrorism and financing of the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction;
2) The classification of customers according to the risk-based approach;
3) The “Know Your Customer” policy;
4) The “Know Your Employee” policy;
5) The periodicity of the reviews and updating of the information and documentation of the customers;
6) Policies relating to correspondent relations;
7) Policies relating to customers or high-risk activities;
8) Policies regarding the confidentiality and protection of information;
9) Contingency plans for information retrieval in cases of disasters;
10) Internal control policies;
11) Norms of self-evaluation of the degree of risk and good practices for the prevention of the crimes of money laundering, financing of terrorism and financing of the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction;
12) Ethical norms and standards;
13) The liaison person with the Financial Analysis Unit;
14) Management of ROS and other reports to the Financial Analysis Unit;
15) Formation of the Ethics and Compliance Committee and the Audit Committee.
Regarding the Ethics and Compliance Committee, Agreement 6-2015 provides that all regulated entities supervised by the Superintendency of the Securities Market must have one to approve the opening of accounts or the commencement of business relations for customers or activities requiring full-range or enhanced due diligence measures to be carried out, and the follow-up to this type of high risk customers. This committee must be formed by at least three (3) members of the Board of Directors. The Ethics and Compliance Committee must also plan, coordinate and ensure compliance with current regulations on the prevention of money laundering, financing of terrorism and financing of the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.
Likewise, Agreement 6-2015 provides that all regulated entities supervised by the Superintendency of the Securities Market must have an Audit Committee that is responsible for the execution, evaluation and effectiveness of the internal control systems of the regulated entity, in order to monitor the internal measures and softwares used in relation to the protection of information, prevention of unlawful acts and compliance with current regulations on the prevention of money laundering crimes, financing of terrorism and financing the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.
All regulated entities supervised by the Superintendency of the Securities Market must update the information and documentation of their customers at least one (1) time per year for all customers and one (1) time per semester for customers subject to full-range or enhanced due diligence measures. At the same time, they must safeguard the information, documentation and records of the operations carried out, for a minimum period of five (5) years from the termination of the commercial relationship with the customer.
The Compliance Act classifies sanctions in two types: Generic Sanctions and Specific Sanctions. Generic sanctions are those established by said Law for breaches of the provisions of the Compliance Act or its sectoral regulations, including as such Agreement 6-2015, for which there is no specific sanction, which will consist of a fine of US$5,000.00 to US$1,000,000.00. Specific Sanctions are those applicable to specific breaches of the Compliance Act or its sectoral regulations, as regulated by the regulatory authority of the respective activity. The Superintendency of the Securities Market has not regulated the specific sanctions to date, for which generic sanctions (fines) will be applied pursuant to article 60 of the Compliance Act.
The fines imposed for breaches of the Compliance Act may be collected through the coercive jurisdiction of each supervisory body, or through the coercive collection process before the General Revenue Directorate. These fines are without prejudice to any civil or criminal liability that may arise.
Executive Decree No. 363 provides a clear picture in terms of the seriousness of the infractions, since it lists some breaches as infractions with minor severity, medium severity and maximum severity. This allows the regulated entity to identify the level of severity of the sanction for the non-compliances listed.
Finally, Executive Decree No. 363 gives the supervisory bodies of each activity the right to cancel, withdraw, restrict or remove licenses, Certificates of Competence or other authorizations from regulated entities that violate the provisions in force regarding compliance, subject to the verification of the sanctioning processes that correspond.
It is a true and lawful translation into English of the original document written in Spanish. Panama, March 12, 2018. Michelle Williams – Authorized Public Translator – Resolution No. 5775 of November 12, 2014, Republic of Panama.
- Publicado en Pablo Epifanio, Press Room, Publications, startups_resources
La Ley de Procesos Concursales de Insolvencia en Panamá
Analissa Carles, Abogada Asociada, Morgan & Morgan
Desde el 19 de mayo de 2016, la figura de “Quiebra” dejó de existir en Panamá para darle paso a unos procesos innovadores en nuestro ordenamiento jurídico, conocidos por la ahora vigente Ley 12 de 2016, como Procesos Concursales de Insolvencia. Estos son la Reorganización y la Liquidación.
El objetivo de esta modificación legislativa fue, no solo la protección del crédito de los acreedores, sino también lograr una diferenciación entre empresa “eficiente” y “no eficiente”, dependiendo de las razones y circunstancias que han dado lugar a su estado de insolvencia.
Proceso Concursal de Reorganización
Para las “empresas eficientes”, la ley introduce el Proceso de Reorganización, cuyo objeto principal es la recuperación y conservación de la empresa y así, que la misma pueda continuar siendo esa unidad de explotación económica y fuente generadora de empleo.
El Proceso de Reorganización Concursal es quizás nuestra versión del llamado “Chapter 11” de los Estados Unidos, que permite la reorganización de las empresas, y puede iniciarse a solicitud de la misma empresa insolvente, como por sus acreedores debidamente organizados mediante una “Junta de Acreedores”. Dicha solicitud debe ir acompañada de una serie de documentos que incluyen, por mencionar algunos, estados financieros de la empresa, listado de inventario activo y pasivo, sus bienes, planilla de trabajadores y el Plan de Reorganización, en donde el deudor contemplará un proyecto de reestructuración financiera, organizativa, operativa y de competitividad con miras a solucionar las causas de cesación de pago, insolvencia inminente o falta previsible de liquidez.
Este Plan de Reorganización es importante dentro del proceso y constituye la génesis del proceso mismo ya que, más adelante, cuando concluya la oportunidad procesal en la que los acreedores comparezcan al proceso y presenten su título justificativo de crédito, será el objeto de votación –aceptación o rechazo – por parte de la constituida Junta de Acreedores, quienes decidirán la efectiva reorganización de la empresa con la ejecución de dicho plan, la culminación del proceso sin éxito (y, por tanto, que el deudor intente negociar con cada acreedor por separado respecto de sus obligaciones) o, en último lugar, su liquidación judicial.
Proceso de Liquidación Judicial
Por otro lado, existe el Proceso de Liquidación Judicial, el cual, como su nombre lo indica, se centra en liquidar – de una forma pronta y ordenada – aquellas empresas “ineficientes”. Éste puede iniciarse a solicitud de la empresa deudora mediante una Liquidación Voluntaria o por medio de solicitud fundada de un acreedor, que en este caso sería una Liquidación Forzosa.
Ambas deben acompañarse de una serie de requisitos y documentos y, de cumplir con todo, el tribunal competente dictará una resolución declarando el estado de liquidación; en el caso de la Liquidación Voluntaria.
Para la Liquidación Forzosa, se admitirá la solicitud y se le dará oportunidad a la empresa deudora que conteste; se fijará una fecha para una audiencia inicial, donde se decidirá, en base a la posición del deudor. Si el deudor se opone al crédito presentado por el acreedor que la promueva y el juez declara fundada la oposición, se denegará la demanda y se tendrá por concluido el proceso; sin embargo, de no prosperar dicha oposición o, peor aún, de no presentarla, el deudor podrá consignar los fondos suficientes para el pago del crédito, acordar con el acreedor solicitante la suspensión de la audiencia para llegar a un arreglo o someterse a un Proceso de Reorganización; de no acceder el deudor a ninguna de las anteriores opciones, el juez dictará la resolución de Declaratoria de Liquidación, con los efectos legales correspondientes.
Ha sido interesante ver el desarrollo y ejecución de esta nueva ley ante los tribunales de justicia de nuestro país, sobre todo porque la Ley 12 de 2016 contempla la creación de los nuevos Juzgados de Circuito de Insolvencia, así como del Cuarto Tribunal Superior del Primer Distrito Judicial, conformado por tres magistrados elegidos por el Pleno de la Corte Suprema de Justicia, con competencia privativa para conocer de estos procesos Concursales de Insolvencia. Sin embargo, a la fecha, éstos no se han creado y, por tanto, quienes están conociendo de estos procesos actualmente son los Jueces de Circuito Civil, quienes deben asistirse del criterio técnico del Administrador Concursal designado por ellos mismos dentro del proceso. Es por ello que dicho administrador designado, quien funge como auxiliar de la justiciar, aunque la ley no lo exija expresamente, debe tener la capacidad – legal y contable – de advertir posibles irregularidades dentro del proceso desde el escrutinio inicial de la solicitud de insolvencia junto con toda la documentación que la sustenta, así como determinar si, ciertamente, se está frente a una empresa eficiente que puede mejorar su condición financiera actual, e incluso hacer recomendaciones frente al mencionado Plan de Reorganización propuesto, antes de ser sometido a la Junta de Acreedores para su votación.
Conclusiones
Son muchos los elementos conceptuales y prácticos a analizar en esta Ley 12 de 2016, pero es realmente la práctica y aplicación de esta la que nos permite advertir los retos que enfrentamos tanto los abogados como, sobre todo, las entidades financieras. Independientemente de lo anterior, el objetivo de la Ley es positivo y vale la pena enfocar nuestros esfuerzos para sacarle el verdadero provecho y obtener los resultados deseados, que dependerán, en gran medida, de la voluntad y Buena fe, tanto de acreedores como de deudores.
Nueva Ley de amnistía tributaria en Panamá: sociedades anónimas y fundaciones de interés de privado
Alvaro Tomas, socio y vicepresidente de Operaciones de la Unidad de Servicios Fiduciarios de Morgan & Morgan
El gobierno panameño emitió la Ley 99 de 11 de octubre de 2019 que establece una ley de Amnistía Tributaria General (“Amnistía”) que incluye la eliminación, por un periodo limitado y en forma escalonada, de multas y de recargos que se generan automáticamente al no estar al día -para sociedades anónimas o fundaciones de interés privado- en sus obligaciones con el fisco nacional. La ley además incluye la amnistía de diversos tipos de intereses y multas que se derivan del no pago de otros impuestos (por ejemplo, el impuesto de inmueble o sobre la renta).
Período de amnistía tributaria
La Ley de Amnistía es escalonada y se extenderá hasta el 29 de febrero de 2020 gozando de la exoneración completa (100%) los que paguen en octubre y noviembre de 2019;
95% los que paguen en diciembre de 2019,
90% los que paguen en enero de 2020 y,
85% los que paguen el 29 de febrero de 2020.
En Morgan & Morgan contamos con un equipo de profesionales experimentados que trabajan de la mano con los jóvenes talentosos que pueden ayudarlo con la administración de sus vehículos corporativos y fundaciones de interés privado. Para mayor información favor escríbanos a [email protected].
- Publicado en 2019, Alvaro Tomas, Estate Planning-es, Estate Planning-es_publi, Press Room, Publicaciones
Consideraciones previas al inicio de un negocio en Panamá
María Eugenia Brenes, asociada del Departamento de Propiedad Intelectual y Corporativo de Morgan & Morgan
[email protected]
Formalizar un negocio requiere varias decisiones de índole legal.
Titular del Negocio
Lo primero que uno debe considerar es si desea emprenderlo a título personal, o a través de una sociedad anónima. Esta decisión es muy importante y ella depende, principalmente, de los siguientes factores:
a) Factor Económico. Es más económico realizar actividades comerciales a título personal (persona natural), ya que mantener una sociedad (persona jurídica) involucra, entre otros, el pago de honorarios al abogado que actúe como agente residente y la tasa única anual. No obstante, las obligaciones fiscales per se son las mismas, es decir en ambos escenarios se debe dar cumplimiento a las exigencias de la Dirección General de Ingresos (DGI) presentando reportes, declarando impuestos y teniendo equipo fiscal, entre otros.
b) Factor Riesgo. Escoger realizar actividades a través de una sociedad conlleva separar el patrimonio, derechos y obligaciones personales de aquellos propios de una empresa; por ende, los bienes de las personas naturales no se verían impactados, en el supuesto que la empresa tenga que responder por alguna obligación y viceversa. Lo anterior significa que el patrimonio personal no se vería afectado en el evento de algún reclamo por parte de terceros contra la empresa.
Por lo antes mencionado, si bien resulta más oneroso operar un negocio vía una sociedad, consideramos oportuno tomar esa ruta ya que permite mantener el patrimonio personal separado de aquel de una empresa.
Tipo de actividades a realizar
La segunda consideración es determinar si las actividades a ser realizadas son permitidas o no, ya que en Panamá existen restricciones por razones de nacionalidad e idoneidad. Esto aplica tanto a las personas naturales, como a los directores y accionistas de una sociedad. Por ejemplo, ciertas actividades como ventas al por menor, o estéticas, estilistas o cosmetólogas, son actividades que se encuentran reservadas para panameños. Existen otras tantas actividades que pueden ser ejercidas por nacionales de otros países sin ninguna restricción, por ejemplo, la venta de bienes al por mayor y la prestación de servicios en general.
Domicilio o local comercial
Habiéndose determinado la actividad comercial a emprender, es necesario seleccionar el domicilio o local donde será realizada. Esto es esencial, ya que, dependiendo del código de zonificación, ciertas áreas no son aptas para realizar actividades comerciales o algún tipo de ellas. Por ejemplo, si la zonificación de una urbanización prohíbe la ubicación de locales de expendio de alimentos, o salones de belleza; no será factible realizar esas actividades en dicho sitio. El Ministerio de Comercio e Industrias recomienda a todos los solicitantes de un aviso de operación, contar con una certificación de la zonificación del sitio donde se realizarán las actividades comerciales para evidenciar su viabilidad.
Aviso de Operación
El siguiente paso, es obtener un aviso de operación que se constituirá en el instrumento idóneo que habilita, ya sea a una persona natural o jurídica para ejercer el comercio en Panamá. Para este fin es necesario ingresar al sitio www.panamaemprende.gob.pa.
Al acceder se deben completar todos los campos de la solicitud del aviso, que incluye, entre otros, el nombre que se pretende utilizar para identificar el establecimiento comercial. Es conveniente elegir un nombre que muestre distinción con otros comercios para evitar cualquier rasgo de confusión con otros negocios que pueda dar origen a disputas sobre denominaciones comerciales. La denominación comercial de un establecimiento guarda estrecha relación con el uso de la marca con que se pretenda identificar productos y/o servicios, por tanto, es importante contar con la asesoría de un profesional del derecho.
Una vez el sistema produce la boleta de pago por los derechos correspondientes, es necesario cancelar el monto con tarjeta de crédito o directamente en el Banco Nacional de Panamá. Efectuado el pago, el sistema lo reconocerá y permitirá la impresión del aviso de operación que amparará las actividades del negocio.
Para ciertos negocios es menester solicitar y obtener permisos previos o especiales antes de optar por el Aviso de Operación. Tal es el caso, entre otros, de cafeterías, restaurantes, bares, bancos, empresas financieras, servicios de ingeniería y construcción en general.
Obligaciones Tributarias
Operar un negocio conlleva implicaciones fiscales, indistintamente de que se realicen a título personal o mediante una sociedad anónima, entre estas:
- Actualizar el Registro Único de Contribuyente (RUC), y la obtención de Número de Identificación Tributaria (NIT);
- Pago anual del Impuesto por el Aviso de operación;
- Obtener impresora fiscal, dependiendo del negocio;
- Registrarse en el Municipio correspondiente y pagar mensualmente los impuestos;
- Si cuenta con trabajadores, inscribirse en el CSS, retener cuotas, y pagarlas mensualmente;
- Presentar reportes mensuales del ITBMS a la DGI;
- Presentar declaraciones de rentas ante la DGI y el Municipio de Panamá.
Cabe mencionar que las personas naturales o sociedades que se registran ante la Autoridad de la Micro, Pequeña y Mediana Empresa (AMPYME), tienen derecho a obtener la exoneración del pago del impuesto sobre la renta, durante los dos primeros años de operación del negocio. De esta manera, registrarse en la AMPYME ofrece ventajas que también incluyen, entre otras, garantías para préstamos.
A grandes rasgos estos son los aspectos que deben ser contemplados antes de iniciar un negocio en la República de Panamá.
Los profesionales de Morgan & Morgan cuentan con la idoneidad que les permite brindar asesoría óptima para el inicio de su negocio, previendo el cumplimiento de todas las disposiciones legales que rigen la materia, así como para asesorarle en la protección de sus derechos intelectuales dentro del marco del negocio.
- Publicado en 2019, Maria Brenes, Press Room, Publicaciones, startups_resources_esp
What employers need to know about labor regulations in the Republic of Panama
Introduction
Panama’s Labor Code, in effect since April 1972, with some changes in the last years, regulates the relationship between capital and labor, based on the principles of social justice established in the Political Constitution of the Republic and it creates a special State protection as a benefit of the employees. The State will intervene to promote employment, create the necessary conditions which ensure that all employees have a decorous existence and to ensure that the capital has an equitable return for its investment, within a scheme that fosters harmonious labor relations that permit permanent growth of productivity.
The provisions of the Labor Code are of public order and they bind all persons, natural or legal, enterprises, undertakings and establishments that are at present established or that may be established within the national territory.
Public servants will be governed by the rules of the civil service, except in those cases in which this Code specifically determines the application of some provisions to them.
Cases not provided for, either in the Code or supplementary legal provisions, shall be decided in accordance with the general principles of the labor law provisions of the Code which govern similar cases or matters, equity and custom.
To legally work in Panama, as general rule, foreigners are required to obtain a Visa and a Work Permit, in separate processes, before the Immigration authorities and in the Ministry of Labor. Some foreigners are exempted to obtain a Work Permit, such as companies that have a multinational headquarters license (SEM Companies), issued by the Ministry of Commerce.
Under Panamanian law there are limits to the hiring of foreign employees. The general rule is that 10% of the workforce can be foreigners and up to 15% if the expatriates are technical or trusted employees. However, there are certain types of visas and work permits which do not apply to these limits.
All employees are required to sign a written employment contract, that must be sealed before the Ministry of Labor. In the absence of a written contract, facts and circumstances alleged by the employee, will be presumed to be true.
The general rule is that work contracts must be for an indefinite period, except for temporary positions, such as, vacations, sick leave replacement, or specific time for a task.
The parties can agree in the contract a probationary period up to the term of three months. During this period, the employer can terminate the contract without any cause, and without paying a severance.
Wages in Panama can be fixed by unit of time (month, fortnight, week, day or hour), or by specific job. Any additional payment, such as gratuities, bonus, premiums, commissions, profit sharing, salaries in kind, and any other benefit, due to the employment relationship, are considered as part of the salary.
Wages must be paid to the employees at least twice a month.
A collective Agreement has the purpose of establishing labor and employment conditions, by an employer and by a union.
All the employers who have employees’ members of a union, must negotiate a collective agreement when the union present a request, either directly to the employer, or through a conciliatory procedure proposed in the Ministry of Labor.
Clauses of the collective labor agreement will apply to all categories of employees, unless the agreement expressly indicates the contrary.
The collective agreement cannot be established under conditions less favorable for the employees than those established by law, the contracts, rules or common practices in effect in the respective company.
All collective agreements bind the parties and the persons in whose name they are made or to whom they apply. It also applies to the future members of the employer.
The provisions of individual labor contracts contrary to or incompatible with the collective agreement, shall be ineffective and automatically substituted by the provisions of the collective agreement. The provisions which are more favorable to the employees shall not be considered contrary to the collective agreement.
The duration of the collective agreement shall not be less than two years, not more than four years.
Once the date fixed has expires, it will continue to be in force until a new one replacing has been concluded, without prejudice to the right of the employees to propose a new negotiation.
In any case in which, due to delay or omission of the employer, the Caja de Seguro Social is not obliged to recognized the benefits to which such special legislation refers, such benefits shall be paid in full by the employer.
The compensation to which employees are entitled under are as follows:
- In case of temporary disability for the performance of his usual occupation, the employee shall be entitled to daily compensation equal to his wages during the first two months of disability; and equivalent to fifty percent of the same during the following ten months if the injured person shall continue to be disabled all that time, in accordance with a medical opinion rendered for that purpose. Said compensation shall be paid by the employer on the same days and conditions in which the wages shall be paid, and it shall be fixed at not less than 1 balboa per day; however, when the wage are less than that sum, they shall be paid in full. If after the lapse of one year the temporary disability of the employee has not ceased, compensation shall be governed by the provision related permanent disabilities.
- In case of partial permanent disability, the employee shall be entitled to a pension for three years computed in the basis of his monthly salary, according to the percentage of disability in accordance with the rules established.
- In case of total permanent disability, the employee shall be entitled to be paid a pension during three years, once it is established, computed on the basis of 60% of his annual wage; during the following two years to a pension equal to 40% of his annual wage; and two more years at thirty percent.
The pensions established in paragraphs 2 and 3 shall not ne cumulative and the time lapsed under one permanent disability shall be credited to the other in case that a partial permanent disability may change to a total permanent disability.
Injuries which, without producing disability, result in serious mutilation of disfigurement of the victim, shall be considered, for purposes of the corresponding indemnity (compensation) the same as partial permanent disability.
Whenever professional risk causes the death of the employee, the persons who are hereinafter said for shall be entitled to a pension under the following conditions:
- A pension of 20% percent of the annual wage of the victim during six years for the spouse or surviving member of the marriage or the woman who lived with the employee as a marital partner, or who was divorced, or separated physically due to causes attributable to him, provided the union or marriage had taken place prior to the death on which the professional risk occurred. Whenever the pension corresponds to the husband, the letter shall only be entitled to it if he proves that he is unable to the work. The woman who marries again or who has marital relations with another man, shall loose this right. Said pension shall be increased to 30% of the annual wage if the workman did not have any beneficiaries among those included in paragraph 2 of this article.
- A pension for minor under 18 years of age and up to that age who were living totally or partially on the expenses of the deceased employee, provided this fact is duly established. Said prove shall not be require when the minors are children of the deceased. In the case other descendants of the deceased employee, including those who may be clearly in possession of such civil status, and of the collaterals up to the third degree inclusive, and are presumed to have lived at the expense of the workman if they lived and were fed and clothed in the same dwelling with him. The afore mentioned pension shall be computed on the annual wage of the deceased workman and shall be:
- 15% if there is only one minor;
- 25% if there are 2;
- 35% if there are 3;
- 40% if there are four or more
If there is no beneficiary entitled to the pension which is established in the preceding paragraph, the pension of the children shall be raised to 20% when there is not more than one; to 15% for each of them if there are two or more, with the limitation established in article 313.
- A pension of 20% of the annual wage, during ten years, for the mother of the deceased workman which shall be raised to 30% of the said wage if there is no beneficiary of those included in clause 2 above.
- A pension of 10% of the annual wage of the deceased workman, doing ten years, for the sexagenary or incapacity father.
- A pension of 10% of the annual wage of the deceased workman, during six years, for each one of the ascendants or collaterals, who lived at the expense of the victim, but the total of these incomes cannot exceed 30% of the annual wage of the worker. It is presumed that such persons lived at the expense of the workman if they dwelt in the same dwelling as the latter and if they lacked, partly or completely resources for their support.
In case of professional risk, the employer is required to provide free of charge to the charge to the employee, until he dies, or until he is fully recovered, or until he is declared by medical opinion to be permanently disabled, the following services:
- Medical and surgical assistance, and medicines, supplies and other pharmaceutical articles.
- The auxiliary aids of the medical treatment prescribed which serve to ensure its success or to reduce the consequences of the injury or disease.
- The normal provision, repair and replacement of prosthetic and orthopedic supplies, the use if which is considered necessary in view of the injury suffered.
- The necessary expenses of transportation, board and lodging of the victim, whenever he must be treated and he must live in a place different from his habitual residence or place of work.
If there should be disagreement between employers and employees with respect to the determination of the sum corresponding to expense of board and lodging, the labor courts shall fix it at the request of any parties, without any other proceeding and without any appeal whatever against such determination.
From the moment an employee begins working, the employer must deduct the amount of 9.75% from his monthly salary, and the employer will contribute with an additional 12.25%, that will be paid to the Social Security, to provide for health care and retirement, once the minimum requirements are obtained.
In order to receive the benefit of a retirement pension, employees has had to contribute with at least 240 monthly payments to the Social Security, and if is a woman, must have reach 57 years old, and men 62 years old.
Prior to the imposition of a disciplinary sanction by the employer, the employee is entitled to be heard and to be accompanied by an adviser, appointed by the trade union thereof.
In all work centers, establishments and businesses with twenty or more employees, a Company Committee shall function, being a joint committee made up of two employer’s representatives and two union representatives, designated on an annual basis by the respective labor union. Where there is no labor union, the employees will elect a representative.
The Company committee, at the request of the party concerned, shall have the right of conciliation in the controversies that arise due to noncompliance with obligations by the employee or the employer.
At all times, both parties may look for expeditious solutions before the administrative or judicial labor authorities.
Working days are divided into the following shifts or periods: day work, from 6:00 am. to 6:00 pm.; night work, from 6:00 pm. to 6:00 am.; mixed shift, is comprising of working hours in both periods, provided that the period of night shift shall be less than three hours.
The maximum day work is eight hours, and the corresponding week, forty-eight hours.
The maximum night work is seven hours, and the corresponding week, forty-two hours.
The maximum mixed work is seven hours and thirty minutes, and the corresponding week forty-five hours.
The work for seven-night hours and seven and a half for mixed shift, will be paid as eight hours of day shift work.
Working hours shall mean the time which the workman may not use freely because he is subject to the orders of the employer.
Work time, exceeding the limits set forth above, or of lower contractual or legally prescribed limits, constitutes overtime and will be paid as follows:
- 25% increase in wages when work is performed during the daytime.
- 50% increase in wages when work is performed during the night period or when the mixed shifts started in the daytime are prolonged.
- 75% increase in wages when the overtime work shift is an extension of the night shift or the mixed shift, started during the night period.
No more than three hours of overtime per shift are allowed. Working in excess of this limitation, will be paid with an additional increase of 75%, apart from the penalties that may be applied to the employer.
The following are holidays or national days of mourning imposed by law as obligatory days of rest:
- January 1st and 9th
- Tuesday of carnival
- Good Friday
- May 1st.
- November 3rd
- November 10th and 28th
- December 8th and 25th
- The day the President elect of the Republic is sworn into office (July 1st, every 5 years)
Work on a legal holiday or day of national mourning shall be paid with an increase of one hundred and fifty percent over the ordinary work day, without prejudice to the right of the workman to be given, as compensation any other rest day during the week. The increase of one hundred and fifty percent includes payment for the rest day.
When the employee provides services on Sundays, in his weekly rest day, or in the day which he would have had free because he had worked on holiday or on a day of national mourning, he will be paid an increase of fifty percent on the ordinary work day.
A 50% increase will be paid for all work performed during the workman’s free days in the case of work weeks of less than six days if the work is carried out during the day working hours and a 75% increase for mixed hours or night hours.
Employees with indefinite labor contracts who are dismissed can request that the Conciliation Board or the Labor Courts where the board does not function, to be reinstated to the position he held or that the severance be paid in accordance to what is established in the Labor Code. If during the corresponding process the employer does not prove just cause for dismissal or the prior resolution that authorized the same, the sentencing will recognize the rights requested by the employee, the payment of back salaries, which will be calculated as follows;
- For up to three months as of the date of dismissal, for those employees who began working after August 1995.
- For up to five months, for those employees who were employed before August 1995.
- The labor proceedings in process at the courts before August 1995 which involve payment of services rendered, back salary or compensation will be governed by the norms in effect at the time this law went into effect. Up to one-year salaries.
The sentencing should state that the payment of compensation will be taken from the pension fund quoted by the employer or, in its defect, by the employer directly, who will also have to pay to cost of the process.
In cases were reinstatement is ordered, the employer can terminate the labor relationship, paying the corresponding compensations plus an additional charge which will be calculated as follows:
- Fifty percent (50%) over the corresponding compensation for those employees who are working in the company after August 1995.
- Twenty five percent (25%) over the corresponding compensation for those employees who began working before August 1995.
When reinstatement has been ordered, the employee who has been dismissed without sufficient reason must be reinstated in his position immediately, or within the second working day following the execution of the respective resolution within the same conditions existing before the dismissal.
In case of reluctance on the part of the employer, with or without request of the interested party, the Judge shall order physical arrest, as guilty of contempt of court.
The right of the employee to place a claim for unfair dismissal prescribes in sixty working days as of the date of dismissal, plus payment, in both cases, of back salary. When the claim is only for the compensation due to unfair dismissal and other compensations derived from the termination of the labor relationship, the same prescribes one year after the date of the dismissal.
The employer cannot terminate the labor relation for an indefinite period, unless there is a justified cause provided for by the law, and according to the formalities of the latter.
Economic Nature:
- Insolvency or bankruptcy of the employer;
- The closing of the business or definite reduction of work due to a noticeable and evident lack or profitability in the exploitation or depletion of the raw material object of the extraction activity; and
- Definite suspension of inherent work in the employee’s contract or an obvious reduction in the employee’s activities, due to a serious economic crisis, partial failure to cover costs of operations, due to reduction in production or innovations in the processes and manufacturing equipment, or revocation or expiration of the administrative concession, cancellation of order or purchase orders or sales, or any other similar reason, properly established by the competent authority.
In these cases of dismissal due to economic crisis, the following rules will apply:
- The first employees will be those with the least amount of time within the respective categories;
- Once the preceding rule has been applied, in deciding which employees are to be kept on the staff, preference shall be given to the Panamanian employees over foreigners, labor union employees over those who are not, and the most efficient in respect to the less efficient.
- Pregnant women, even if they are not preferentially covered by the previous rules, shall be dismissed last and only if necessary and after all the legal formalities have been fulfilled.
- In equal circumstances, after having applied the previous rules, employees protected by the labor union privilege shall have preference over other in remaining on the job.
When the cause of dismissal is one of those mentioned above, the employer must give evidence of the cause before the administrative authorities of labor.
In these cases, the dismissal that does not comply with the requirements mentioned in the above subparagraph, will be deemed unfair.
However, if at the time of expiration of the term of sixty calendar days, the administrative authorities have not resolved the request, the employer can proceed with the dismissal, which will be deemed completely justified and will be obligated to pay the severance established in the Labor Code.
Any alteration in the judicial or economic structure of the business, or the substitution of the employer, shall be governed by the following rules:
- The alteration or substitution will not affect the existing labor relationships to the detriment of the employees;
- Without prejudice to the legal responsibility between both, in accordance with common law, and in the event of a change of employer, the outgoing employer shall be jointly and severally liable with the new employer, in all the obligations derived from the contracts or the law, arising before the date of substitution and up to the term of one year, as of the date of the notice referred to in the next paragraph. Upon expiration of this term, liability will rest solely with the new employer.
- The respective employees and labor unions shall be notified of the substitution in writing no later than 15 days following the date of the substitution.
- Failure to give notification shall maintain the joint responsibility of the employers until said notification is given.
- In no event will the rights or actions of the employees be affected, nor will it alter the unity of the employer, the economic fractionating of the company where they render services, nor the contracts, agreements or commercial combinations which tend to decrease or distribute the responsibilities of the employer.
- If the patrimony of the business has been transferred to a third party by an arbitrary, judicial or any other kind of act, which later is declared illegal or unconstitutional, it will neither affect the continuity of the company, nor substitutions of the employer, and the beneficiary of said act will be solely responsible for the judicial consequences derived from the acts, contracts or the law which took place between the date on which patrimony was transferred and the date on which the same was returned to its legitimate owner, except in the cases of simulation and fraud for the benefit of the person who transferred said patrimony.
The beneficiary of the arbitrary act will respond to the satisfaction of the debts incurred during the corresponding time period the patrimony was held or produced after the start of the transactions with the shareholders and directors, if any.
Individually, every employee has the right to present a claim to the Ministry of Labor authorities, claim that will produce a conciliatory procedure trying to resolve the dispute with an agreement.
Same right have the unions to present claims on behalf of the employees, either to produce a conciliatory procedure, or to propose a petition list accusing the employer for not complying to with the labor law or to the collective labor agreement.
Employees that considers their dismissal were produced without a justified cause, as established in the Labor Code, have the right to propose a suit in the Conciliatory and Decision Board, where the hearing will take place. Both parties have the right to present an appeal to the Board decision, to the Superior Labor Court, which will produce the final and definitive resolution.
Claims for payments of accrued rights that are higher of $2,000.00 are proposed in the regular labor courts. Any appeal will be heard in the Superior Labor Court, and the final and definitive decision can go all the way to the Supreme Court.
All employees are entitled to an annual pay rest (vacation).
The right to vacations exists even though the contract does not require that the workman work all the hours of the ordinary work day or on every day of the week.
The duration of the remuneration for vacation shall be governed by the following rules:
- Thirty days for every eleven continuous months of work, at rate of one day for every eleven days in the service of his employer.
- Payment of one month’s wages when the remuneration is agreed on by the month, and four weeks and one third, when agreed on per week. In these cases, if the wages include bonuses, commissions or other variable sums, or of the workman has received an increase in wages, the average ordinary and overtime wages accrued during the last eleven months, or the last basic wage, will be paid, whichever is more favorable to the workman.
- In the case employees are paid by the hour or by the day, the total ordinary and overtime payment that the workman has received during the last 11 months of service shall be divided by the number of ordinary working hours served, or less time served, in case of proportionate vacations, and this quotient shall be multiplied by the number of annual rest days to which he is entitled. If the basic salary accrued during the last month is more than the average, the vacations shall be paid in accordance with the former.
- For the purposes of computation of time served which entitles the employee to a vacation, the duration of the weekly legal holidays or national mourning and sick leave, as well as other interruptions expressly authorized by the employer, will be counted.
- The sum that the employee must receive will be computed and paid to him three days in advance of the date on which he may begin to enjoy his annual rest (vacation).
- If the labor relationship is terminated before the employee has the right to the complete vacation period dealt with in this article, he will be paid in cash the proportional vacation days to which he is entitled at the rate of one day for every 11 days of work, and
- When the vacation period has been completed, the employee is entitled to be reinstated in his position.
When the employee receives part of his wages in kind, the payment in kind or its equivalent in money must be added to remunerations, according to that which is established in the Labor Code.
Every employee working in Panama is entitled to a special benefit considered as a thirteen-month bonus, which represents one-month salary, to be paid in three equal parts during the months of April, August and December.
From the start of the contract, the employee will begin to establish a sick leave fund, which will be twelve hours for every twenty-six shifts worked or one hundred and forty-four hours a year, which he may use as a whole or in part while receiving full pay, in case of illness or a non-work related accident. This fund is accumulative for two years and can be used in whole or part during the third year of service.
When the employee does not have the right to Social Security benefits and the sick leave fund runs out, he will have the right to have the leave time extended by having the time deducted from his accumulated vacation time. If the Social security benefits are not recognized due to late payments or fault of the employer, the later must pay the corresponding subsidy.
Certificates of incapacity must be issued by medical professionals, be numbered, contain the registration number given to the medical professional by the General Health Office, the complete name of the doctor, address, telephone number and name of the public institution, be it the Social Security Hospital or Ministry of Health, or private clinic where the medical professional works.
The certificate of incapacity that does not comply with these requirements will not be valid, unless for reasons of the place where it was issued it was impossible to comply with any one of these items. The medical professional must maintain, in the employees’ file, a copy of each certificate with the diagnosis or motive of incapacity.
Discrimination in Panama is forbidden. According to the provisions of Panama’s Constitution, there shall not be privileges or discriminations because of race, birth, disability, social class, sex, religion or political views.
The law prohibits job advertisement requiring a certain age of the candidate.
It is unlawful to employ:
- Minors under fourteen years of age.
- Minors up to fifteen years of age who have not completed their primary school education.
Those who are under 18 cannot work in those jobs which due to their nature or the conditions under which they performed, are dangerous to the life, health or morals of the person who carry them out, especially the following:
- Work in clubs, bars and other places where alcoholic beverages are retailed.
- Transportation of passengers and goods by highways, railways, airplanes, inland water ways and work on piers and in warehouses;
- Work related to the generation, transformation and transmission of electrical power.
- Handling of explosives or inflammable substances;
- Underground work in mines, stone queries, tunnels or sewers.
- Handling of substances, devices or apparatus which exposes them to the effects of radioactivity.
What is provided in numbers 2,3,4 and 5 of this article will not be applied to the work of young persons vocational schools, provided such work is approved and supervised by the competent authorities.
In farming and cattle establishments, minors between 12 and 15 years of age may be employed only in light work and outside the hours prescribed for school education.
Likewise, those who are under 18 cannot work:
- In night work from 6 p.m. to 8 a.m.
- Overtime hours on Sundays, legal holidays or days of national mourning.
Contracts concerning the work of those who are under 18 must be entered into with the participation of the father or legal representative of same. If they have no father or legal guardian, the contracts will be executed directly by the minors in question, with the approval of the labor administrative authority.
To determine the hours of work, the school requirements of minors will be taken into consideration, and the hours of work cannot exceed:
- Six hours per day and thirty-six per week, with respect to those who are under 16; and
Seven hours per day and 42 per week, with respect to those who are under 18.
An intermediary is any person who engages, or intervenes in the engagement of, the services of other persons to perform some work in favor of the employer.
Contractors, subcontractors and other established undertakings which engage employees for the execution of jobs, for the direct benefit of third persons, with capital, equipment, management, and other elements owned by them, will not be considered as middlemen, but as employers.
Notwithstanding, the direct beneficiary of the services rendered, or jobs performed, shall be jointly and severally liable with the contractor, subcontractor and other established undertakings for the fulfillment of the pending obligations in favor of the employees, in the case of the jobs or operations inherent, related to or connected with the line of activities of the beneficiary, even if the subcontract is expressly prohibited in the juridical act entered into between beneficiaries and contractors.
In any event, the contractor shall be jointly and severally liable with all the subcontractors of the obligations that these may have pending with the workmen.
In undertakings which execute jobs that are exclusively or principally for the benefit of another undertaking, the latter and not the former shall be considered the employer of all the employees who render services for the former, but both will be jointly and severally liable for all the services and indemnities to which the workmen may be entitled.
Also, is considered to be an employee the person who periodically sells or in any way delivers articles, materials, effects, or any kinds of assets, to an individual who lacks his own organization, the latter reselling or distributing them, provided that the resale or distribution is made in accordance with certain routes, itineraries, norms or directions, or that his main means of support be derived from such activity.
With the prior authorization of the Ministry of Labor, the operations and undertakings which dedicate themselves to providing their own employees to perform services for the undertakings that require them provisionally, for periods that do not exceed two months, under their intermediate direction and in accordance with the following rules, is permitted:
- The minimum wage that must be received by the employees shall be at the highest rates specified for the respective district.
- The undertakings that use the services of the employees shall be jointly and severally liable with the employing undertaking, for the wages, benefits and indemnities corresponding to the period to which, in each case, their services are employed.
- Acts of the person or undertaking making use of the services, detrimental to the employee, shall be considered acts of the employer for all legal purposes.
The Ministry of Labor is empowered to regulate this provision and to ensure that the provisions concerning the placement of employees are not flouted by these undertakings.
Basic rights established by law, cannot be negotiated. Such rights are: minimum salary, maximum day and week shift, mandatory weekly rest day, vacations, 13th month bonus, sick leave, and any other benefit included in the respective employment contract or created by law.
Employees have the right to be included in the Social Security system, which allows them to health protection, and collect the retire fund, when age is completed.
Employees have the right to be members of a union and to negotiate a collective agreement with the employer.
Employees have the right to work and to maintain their job. They can only be dismissed if a disciplinary cause is committed, but the employer must prove in court the specific cause or causes.
- Publicado en 2019, Maria Teresa Mendoza, Press Room, Publications
Nuevos cambios migratorios: SEM, Regularización y Aviación
Decreto Ejecutivo No. 238 de 10 de junio de 2019
SE ESTABLECEN LOS REQUISITOS PARA SOLICITAR EL PERMISO DE RESIDENCIA PERMANENTE PARA EL PERSONAL SEM.
A partir del 11 de Junio de 2019, fecha en que entro en vigencia este Decreto Ejecutivo, se establecen los requisitos para solicitar el Permiso de Residencia Permanente para Personal SEM: i) que continúa laborando en la empresa SEM, y ii) que ya no labora en la empresa SEM.
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Decreto Ejecutivo No. 249 de 10 de junio de 2019
SE ESTABLECE EL PROCEDIMIENTO Y LOS REQUISITOS PARA OPTAR A LA PERMANENCIA DEFINITIVA APLICABLE A LOS EXTRANJEROS QUE HAYAN OBTENIDO RENOVACIÓN DE SUS PERMISOS PROVISIONALES DE REGULARIZACIÓN MIGRATORIA DE 10 AÑOS O SUS PERMISOS DE REGULARIZACIÓN MIGRATORIA GENERAL DE 6 AÑOS.
A partir del 13 de junio de 2019, fecha en que entra en vigencia este Decreto Ejecutivo, se establece el procedimiento y los requisitos para optar a la Permanencia Definitiva a los extranjeros que hayan obtenido sus permisos de regularización migratoria de 10 o 6 años.
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Decreto Ejecutivo No. 237 de 10 de junio de 2019
SE MODIFICA EL DECRETO EJECUTIVO NO. 182 DE 28 DE MAYO DE 2019, MEDIANTE EL CUAL SE CREÓ LA SUBCATEGORÍA DE RESIDENTE TEMPORAL EN CALIDAD DE EMPLEADO DE EMPRESAS DE AVIACIÓN RADICADAS EN LA REPÚBLICA DE PANAMÁ.
A partir del 11 de junio de 2019, fecha en que entró en vigencia este Decreto Ejecutivo, se modifica la Subcategoría de Residente Temporal en calidad de Empleado de Empresas de Aviación radicadas en la República de Panamá.
Read more- Publicado en 2019, Immigration Law, news, Press Room, Publicaciones
CAMBIOS EN LAS NORMAS PARA OTORGAMIENTO DE PERMISOS DE RESIDENCIA Y PERMISOS DE TRABAJO
El día 28 de mayo de 2019, se promulgaron cinco (5) Decretos Ejecutivos que modifican normas relativas al otorgamiento de permisos de residencia y permisos de trabajo. Los cambios principales son los siguientes:
SERVICIO NACIONAL DE MIGRACIÓN.
- Visa de Estadía Eventual para ciudadanos de los Estados Unidos de América:
Se crea una nueva categoría de Visa de Estadía Eventual para ciudadanos de los Estados Unidos de América, por razones de estudios, inversión, trabajo eventual o técnico, o transferencia laboral. Será otorgada por el término de un (1) año, prorrogable anualmente hasta por cinco (5) veces más.
Decreto Ejecutivo No. 181 de 28 de mayo de 2019
- Residente Temporal en calidad de Empleado de Empresas de Aviación:
Se modifica la categoría de Residente Temporal en calidad de Empleado de Empresas de Aviación radicadas en la República de Panamá, a quienes se les otorgará un permiso de residencia por dos (2) años, prorrogables por el mismo término, hasta completar un periodo total de seis (6) años.
Decreto Ejecutivo No. 182 de 28 de mayo de 2019
MINISTERIO DE TRABAJO Y DESARROLLO LABORAL
- Permiso de Trabajo para Residentes Permanentes:
Se crea una nueva categoría de permiso de trabajo, para residentes permanentes, el cual será otorgado por el término de tres (3) años, prorrogable por el mismo término.
Decreto Ejecutivo No. 21 de 28 de mayo de 2019
- Permiso de Trabajo para Extranjero con cónyuge panameño:
Será otorgado por dos (2) años la primera vez y la prórroga por tres (3) años cada vez. Anteriormente, era otorgado por el término de un año (1), prorrogable por un (1) año cada vez.
Decreto Ejecutivo No. 20 de 28 de mayo de 2019
- Permiso de Trabajo para Extranjero, dentro del diez por ciento del personal ordinario:
Será otorgado por el término de dos (2) años, prorrogable por el mismo tiempo. Anteriormente, era otorgado por el término de un (1) año, prorrogable por un (1) año cada vez.
Decreto Ejecutivo No. 20 de 28 de mayo de 2019
- Permiso de Trabajo para Extranjero experto o técnico, dentro del quince por ciento del personal especializado:
Será otorgado por el término de dos (2) años, prorrogable por el mismo tiempo. Anteriormente, era otorgado por el término de un (1) año, prorrogable por un (1) año cada vez hasta completar cinco años.
Decreto Ejecutivo No. 20 de 28 de mayo de 2019
- Permiso de Trabajo Acuerdo de Marrakech:
Se establece la cantidad mínima de trabajadores que debe tener una empresa de menos de diez (10) trabajadores. La empresa deberá contar con un mínimo de tres (3) trabajadores panameños y únicamente podrá tener como extranjero al trabajador solicitante del permiso de trabajo.
Decreto Ejecutivo No. 20 de 28 de mayo de 2019
- Permiso de Trabajo para Extranjero Profesional:
Será otorgado por el término de dos (2) años, la primera vez, y las prórrogas por tres (3) años cada vez. Se podrá aplicar a este permiso de trabajo con carné de trámite; es decir, aun cuando no cuenten con la resolución de aprobación de permiso de residencia en Panamá.
- Publicado en 2019, Immigration Law, news, Press Room, Publicaciones
Belize: Intellectual Property Prohibition
Naim Musa, Managing Director, Morgan & Morgan, Belize office
Pursuant to the International Business Companies (Intellectual Property Asset Prohibition) Regulations, 2019 and related legislation, companies incorporated under the International Business Companies Act of Belize (IBCs) shall not acquire, hold own or deal with any Intellectual Property Asset as follows:
• IBCs incorporated on or before 16 October 2017 shall not acquire, hold own or deal with any Intellectual Property Asset unless that asset is approved by the Belize International Financial Services Commission for holding IP assets up to 30 June 2021. After 30 June 2021 all Intellectual Property Assets must be disposed.
• IBCs incorporated on or after 17 October 2017 shall not acquire, hold own or deal with any Intellectual Property Asset.
Under law, “Intellectual Property Asset” means any intellectual property right in intangible assets, including but not limited to copyright, patents, trademarks, brand, and technical know-how, from which identifiable income accrues to the business (such income being separately identifiable from any income generated from any tangible asset in which the right subsists).
This law is currently in effect and we would encourage that clients take such necessary steps to dispose of all Intellectual Property Assets from any IBCs or, if applicable, seek necessary administrative approval for the holding of same. Failure to do so may result in penalties and fines.
You may forward any questions on this legislative amendment to our Belize office at [email protected]
- Publicado en 2019, Estate Planning_publi, Estate Planning-es_publi, Musa Naim, Press Room, Publications