chiquita worker in field

Banana workers at Chiquita’s farms in Bocas del Toro, Panama have called off a strike in protest at the installation of security cameras in plantations and packhouses after the multinational agreed to remove the cameras.

The walkout, which lasted for more than two weeks, came to an end last Friday after intervention and mediation from the government.

It is estimated to have cost Chiquita millions of dollars after preventing it from exporting around 65,000 boxes of bananas a day.

Raúl Palacio of the Banana Industry Workers’ Union (SITRAIBANA), noted that “both parties gave fifty-fifty to return to normality”.

Palacio added that a commission had been set up to monitor the issue going forward.