Your workforce is a legal matter from the first hire. We make sure the structure holds.
Employment relationships in Panama are governed by the Labor Code — a framework that establishes clear rights for employees and real exposure for employers who manage it imprecisely. Corporate immigration adds a second layer: the rules for bringing international talent to Panama have expanded significantly, but they still require precise navigation. At Chanis, employment and immigration advice is integrated with corporate counsel — because the people who run a business are part of its legal architecture.
- Employment Contracts & Documentation
- Workforce Management & Compliance
- Corporate Immigration & Work Permits
- Residency & Investor Visas
Employment and immigration counsel for companies building and managing teams in Panama.
EMPLOYMENT CONTRACTS & DOCUMENTATION
A well-structured employment relationship begins with documentation that reflects the actual arrangement — compensation, role, confidentiality, non-competition where enforceable, and compliance with the Labor Code requirements for written agreements. We draft, review, and advise on employment documentation for all levels of the workforce.
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- Employment contracts for executives, managers, and staff
- Non-competition and non-solicitation provisions under Panama law
- Compensation and benefits structuring
- Probation period documentation and management
- Confidentiality and non-disclosure in the employment context
- Internal policies and employee handbooks
- Contractor vs. employee classification analysis
- Contract amendments and role change documentation
WORKFORCE MANAGEMENT & COMPLIANCE
Ongoing employment compliance covers more than payroll. Social Security obligations, SIACAP contributions, annual leave, vacation liquidations, thirteenth month, and profit-sharing requirements all create a compliance calendar that must be actively managed. We advise companies on compliance frameworks and support HR teams on specific questions as they arise.
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- Labor Code compliance programs for Panama employers
- SIACAP (complementary pension) compliance
- Thirteenth month and profit-sharing (participación en utilidades)
- Employee handbook design and regulatory update
- Social Security (CSS) registration and contribution obligations
- Annual leave, vacations, and liquidation calculations
- Collective bargaining agreements and union relations
- Compliance audit and gap analysis for existing workforces
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION & SEPARATION
Executive arrangements require specific structuring — compensation packages, incentive structures, confidentiality obligations, and termination provisions that protect the company’s interests while complying with Panama law. Separations, when they occur, require precise management to avoid unnecessary exposure.
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- Executive compensation and incentive structuring
- Resignation, termination, and separation agreements
- Non-solicitation and post-employment obligations
- Negotiated exit arrangements for senior personnel
- Equity participation and profit-sharing arrangements for key personnel
- Severance calculation and voluntary separation programs
- Directors and officers — roles, obligations, and liability protection
- Employment aspects of corporate transactions and change of control
LABOR DISPUTES & MINISTRY PROCEEDINGS
Labor disputes in Panama are processed through the Ministry of Labor (MITRADEL) and the Labor Courts — a system with its own procedural cadence and institutional culture. We advise companies at every stage of labor dispute management, from pre-litigation strategy through appellate proceedings.
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- Ministry of Labor (MITRADEL) proceedings and inspections
- Labor court representation — first instance and appeal
- Labor audit management and remediation
- Ministry conciliation proceedings and negotiated settlements
- Wrongful termination defense and representation
- Collective labor disputes and union negotiation support
- Reintegration orders — defense and compliance strategy
- Mass layoff procedures and regulatory notification
CORPORATE IMMIGRATION & WORK PERMITS
Bringing international employees to Panama requires navigating permit categories, processing timelines, and eligibility criteria that vary by nationality, investment level, and sector. We advise companies on the optimal immigration path for each situation and manage the process through to approval.
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- Work permits for foreign employees by specific category
- Special Migratory Permit (PME) for corporate personnel
- Dependents and family members of permit holders
- Employer obligations and record-keeping for migrant workers
- Marrakesh-type permits for multinational company personnel
- Short-term business visas and temporary authorization
- Coordination with the Servicio Nacional de Migración
- Immigration compliance programs for companies with international workforces
RESIDENCY & INVESTOR VISAS
Panama offers one of the broadest menus of residency options in the region — for investors, entrepreneurs, professionals, and retirees. We advise on visa selection, structure investments for immigration purposes, and manage residency applications through to permanent status.
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- Qualified Investor Visa (minimum USD 300,000 investment)
- Retirement and Pensioner Visa (Jubilado)
- Entrepreneur and business investor permits
- Coordination between investment structuring and immigration process
- Friendly Nations Visa (professional services and economic activity)
- Self-Economic Solvency Visa
- Permanent residency and Panamanian citizenship path planning
- Residency for family groups and multi-generational planning
The legal aspects of building a team in Panama reward preparation — and penalize improvisation.
Getting employment right from the first contract reduces the cumulative exposure that builds when arrangements are documented informally or managed without legal input. Getting immigration right avoids the operational disruption of permit delays, compliance gaps, or adverse immigration decisions. We advise companies as ongoing employment counsel — before the dispute, not in response to it.
PREVENTIVE BY DESIGN
Employment compliance built into the operation
The cost of a well-structured employment relationship is a fraction of the cost of a disputed termination. We structure arrangements that holdINTEGRATED WITH CORPORATE
Employment and immigration as part of business growth
When the company hires an executive from abroad, acquires a business with existing employees, or restructures its workforce, the employment and immigration implications are handled by the same team managing the broader matter.
FULL LIFECYCLE
From first hire to final resolution
Employment contracts, compliance programs, executive arrangements, disputes, and immigration — we advise across the full lifecycle of the employment relationship.
Let’s talk about your matter.
Schedule a consultation with our team – a direct conversation about your business and what you need.
