#ElSalvador 🇸🇻 #BDS_Article: Minimum Wage Adjustment: Key Considerations for Business Management
The recent 12% increase in the minimum wage in El Salvador, effective as of June 1, 2025, presents...
Panama’s regulation governing medical leave certificates in this country will undergo a major change on October 12, 2025, when Executive Decree No. 17 of 2025, issued by the Ministry of Health, enters into force. For the first time, the regulation establishes an official procedure that allows employers to request verification of the authenticity of medical certificates, in an effort to address the misuse of certified medical leave.
To be considered valid, a certified medical leave must meet specific legal requirements: it must be issued by a duly licensed physician, be pre-numbered, registered with the General Health Office, include the physician’s full details, and specify the institution —public or private —where the physician practices.
However, the submission of false or unjustified medical leave certificates has become a recurring practice in Panama, affecting both public and private sectors.
In response, the new decree repeals prior regulations and authorizes employers to submit formal requests to the Ministry of Health when they suspect a certificate may be illegitimate. These requests must include the employer’s information, the details of the employee on leave, the issuing physician, and the healthcare facility, along with the certificate in question. The technical staff of the relevant Regional Health Office will verify the certificate’s validity through inspections and document review.
In addition, the decree expressly acknowledges the issue of commercialization of certified medical leaves and enables the filing of complaints in cases involving fraudulent certificates. This provides employers with a key legal tool to protect their operations and seek official support when an employee’s medical leave raises reasonable doubts.
It is important to note that this regulatory reform is not intended to limit the employees’ rights to rest and to receive medical care, but rather to ensure that such rights are exercised legitimately. It also introduces penalties for individuals who engage in fraudulent practices that jeopardize businesses and undermine the integrity of the healthcare system.
Please contact us if you have questions or need legal assistance regarding the implementation of these new provisions.
