Panama Chamber of Commerce confirms talks on bill expanding retiree discounts

Panama’s Chamber of Commerce will take part in a meeting on a bill that would expand discounts for retirees and pensioners, its president, Aurelio Barría, confirmed.

The meeting, convened for Wednesday, follows an initiative by President José Raúl Mulino to examine the economic and financial viability of legislation recently approved by the National Assembly.

The dialogue will bring together three representatives from retiree groups and three members of the business sector. The Chamber of Commerce wants the support directed primarily toward older people in the most vulnerable situations.

Barría also warned that an excessive financial impact on businesses could threaten economic stability and lead to unemployment. He said the scale of the proposed discounts needs to be measured precisely as the participants look for a sustainable alternative.