Unachi Payroll Paid, but Comptroller Warns Crisis to Continue Until Year-End

Panama's Comptroller General, Anel Flores, has announced that over 2,000 employees at the Autonomous University of Chiriquí (Unachi) have finally received their overdue salary payments. This resolves weeks of uncertainty and demands from staff concerning delayed wages.

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What I do have great news for is that today we are paying the payroll for all those 2,000-plus collaborators who work there.

The disbursement was facilitated through coordinated efforts involving the Comptroller's Office, the Ministry of Economy and Finance, and the Ministry of Education. Flores confirmed that the payroll payments began processing through checks and bank transfers on Thursday morning. "What I do have great news for is that today we are paying the payroll for all those 2,000-plus collaborators who work there," Flores stated.

Despite this significant step, Flores cautioned that the university's underlying financial problems are far from over. He warned that the lack of budget and funding issues plaguing Unachi are not temporary and will continue to be a challenge throughout the remainder of the year. "This is not a problem that ends today," he emphasized.

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This is not a problem that ends today.

Flores also highlighted the need for structural reforms within the university's administration. He suggested that operational costs must be reduced to ensure a better educational future for the Chiriquí province. These statements come in the wake of protests by students and staff concerned that the salary delays could disrupt academic activities.

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Yes, structural changes must be made in that organization, because we believe that operating expenses must be reduced in order to leave better education for the province of Chiriquí.