More than 1600 job seekers have applied for positions during the first two days of a recruitment fair organized by Chiquita Panama and the Panamanian government. The event, taking place in Changuinola within the Bocas del Toro Province, aims to staff banana plantations following a major labor dispute that halted operations earlier this year. This hiring drive is a critical step to fully restart banana exports from the region by early 2026.
Massive Turnout for Agricultural Jobs
The job fair began on Tuesday, November 11, and saw an immediate and overwhelming response from the local community. Ministry of Labor and Labor Development (Panama) officials reported that 848 people were processed on the first day. By the afternoon of Wednesday, November 12, the total number of applicants had surged past 1600. A significant number of women and young people were among those seeking employment on the banana farms.
Jackeline Muñoz de Cedeño, the Labor Minister, is personally monitoring the recruitment process. The initial phase of hiring targets 3000 workers for field and cleaning duties. Company and government plans indicate an additional 2000 workers will be hired by the end of the year. This aggressive timeline is designed to resuscitate the local economy and restore a key export commodity.
“We are witnessing a very positive response from the community, which is essential for the reactivation of the banana sector in the province,” said Labor Minister Jackeline Muñoz de Cedeño. [Translated from Spanish]
Rebooting a Critical Economic Engine
This recruitment push follows the signing of a memorandum of understanding between Chiquita Brands International and the Panamanian government in August 2025. The company officially resumed its Panamanian operations in September. The agreement established a new partnership model between Chiquita and local producer associations, with the company committing to purchase and internationally market the fruit.
The context for this revival is a period of intense labor conflict. Between May and July of this year, protests and worker disputes triggered a temporary production shutdown. The suspension led to the dismissal of approximately 6000 employees, severely impacting the local economy and stalling banana exports. The current job fair represents a tangible move toward stability after months of uncertainty for thousands of families. The company is leveraging its existing guabito assets and other partnership structures to facilitate this large-scale rehiring.
Five partner firms tied to Chiquita are participating in the hiring spree. These include Las Tablas Assets, Guabito Assets, Las 30 Assets, Las 60 Assets, and Finca 8 Internacional. Each company is responsible for a specific set of farms across the district. The job fair schedule rotates through different locations in Changuinola to accommodate applicants from various areas, with events planned daily through Saturday, November 15.
Application Process and Next Steps
Prospective employees must bring specific documentation to apply. Required items include a copy of their national ID, bank account number and certification, an active email address, a police record, and a health certificate issued within the last month. These requirements ensure that selected candidates can be integrated into the payroll and operational systems quickly.
The successful restart of the chiquita panama operations is seen as a barometer for the economic health of the entire Bocas del Toro province. Local businesses that depend on the spending power of plantation workers are anticipating a much-needed boost. With the hiring process now in full swing, the focus shifts to training the new workforce and preparing the farms for a full return to export capacity by the first quarter of 2026.