Supreme Court Opens Path for Seniority Bonus Claims by Deputies and Top Officials
PANAMA CITY, August 1, 2026 – Panama Supreme Court has opened the door for deputies, ministers, directors, administrators, secretaries general and other freely appointed officials to claim the seniority bonus known as prima de antiguedad.
TVN Noticias reported that the Court declared most of article 1 of Law 241 of 2021 unconstitutional, removing the main restrictions that excluded several categories of public officials from the benefit.
The ruling was issued by the full Court in a July 21, 2026 sentence after a constitutional challenge filed by attorney Enereida Barrias. During its review, the Court expanded the analysis beyond the numerals originally challenged and struck down most of the restrictions.
According to TVN, the Court concluded that the seniority bonus is an acquired labor right tied to time served for the State. The magistrates found that excluding certain officials because of the offices they held generated unequal treatment among public servants.
The only exception left standing relates to personnel hired through consulting arrangements under public-procurement and national-budget rules.
The decision may generate new claims and political debate because it affects officials at the highest levels of government, while also redefining how the benefit is interpreted across public service.
Why it matters
The ruling affects public payroll obligations, labor-rights interpretation and public perception of benefits available to senior officials.
What happens next
Government institutions and affected officials will be watching how claims are processed and what fiscal impact the ruling may create.
