CONCERNS OF The Panama Bar Association, that the Ricardo Martinelli inspired immigration fairs would be restarted were allayed on Tuesday, March 19 by the Minister of Labor.

Luis Ernesto Carles said that the government has no intention of reviving the immigration fairs started by the previous administration, that rubber stamped permits for thousands of foreign workers for a fee.
Carles explained that the labor law is universal and that it is the responsibility of the government to extend work visas for foreign citizens.
He said the existing law ensures foreigners that they can work in the county legally if they receive a visa.
Carles explained that the country has had a growth in employment of between 3 percent and 4 percent, and "the tendency in the last seven or eight years has been to employ migrant workers." However, the objective of the government is to ensure these workers have visas.