Law No. 471 of June 16, 2025, which creates a special regime for workers in banana companies and independent banana producers, was published in Official Gazette No. 30301-A.

The law, which was approved in its third reading by the full National Assembly on Friday, June 13, was published after President José Raúl Mulino signed it into law on the morning of Monday, June 16.

This law, which will take effect the day after its enactment, seeks to provide greater protection and benefits to a key sector of the country’s economy.

Among the most notable provisions, the law establishes that independent workers and producers incorporated into the mandatory regime, or those who voluntarily join it, will receive a daily sickness benefit.

Additionally, this benefit will apply when the illness causes a 30% or greater inability to perform work, and the subsidy will correspond to 80% of the salary corresponding to the last two months of contributions.

Regarding disability pensions, the average monthly salary corresponding to the ten most recent years of contributions will be used as the calculation basis.

The law also recognizes manual labor as a high-risk activity for health, granting these workers the right to early retirement due to old age.

Funds will be allocated to finance the special pension and held in a separate and exclusive reserve.

Employers will also contribute 2.5% of the wages they pay their employees, while the State will contribute 6% of the wages paid to workers.

Workers who have provided or are providing services in banana plantations and who meet the age requirements (58 for men and 54 for women) and have paid at least 216 Social Security contributions will also be entitled to early retirement due to old age.