Cervecería Nacional (CN), a brewery with more than 55 years in business, was owned by SABMiller, but later purchased by AB InBev in December 2016.

Today nearly 200 workers were laid off. According to the company, “the personnel terminations have been done in strict compliance with Panamanian labor laws, guaranteeing all workers’ rights and benefits.” The multinational corporation declared it “reaffirms its commitment to the country, where it maintains more than one thousand active jobs,” highlighting its “contribution to the economic and social development of Panama through corporate social responsibility programs and initiatives”.

It seems there is no limit to the cynicism and brazenness displayed by AB InBev when it announces to the public that it has complied with labor legislation and is devoted to furthering the prosperity of the country and its people.

For years, this multinational corporation has been laboring to reduce the number of workers on its payroll and outsource operations, trampling laws and agreements signed with the unions.

This situation is compounded by the struggle waged against the corporation by the USTIAM unions in Colombia, where the direct bargaining process for a new agreement was stalled as a result of AB InBev’s intransigence.

We will continue reporting on this situation.