The Building and Wood Workers’ International (BWI) strongly condemns reports of police surveillance, infiltration and intimidation targeting trade unions and social movements in Panama. Reports submitted by the National Confederation of Independent Trade Union Unity (CONUSI) and the BWI-affiliated Sindicato Único Nacional de Trabajadores de la Industria de la Construcción y Similares (SUNTRACS) to the International Labour Organisation (ILO) raise grave concerns about the possible use of state intelligence to monitor union leaders, their families and their organisations. Such allegations demand urgent, impartial investigation and a clear commitment to protecting workers’ fundamental rights.

Trade unions are not state enemies. They are the voice of workers fighting for decent wages, safe workplaces, fair treatment and a better future for their families. Workers must never be treated as threats simply because they organise, speak out or challenge injustice. Surveillance targeting workers and trade unionists may violate the right to privacy under Article 12 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and Article 17 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which protect against arbitrary or unlawful interference with privacy. Any attempt to intimidate union leaders, infiltrate lawful union activities or use surveillance to undermine workers’ organisations strikes at the heart of freedom of association and democratic rights.

BWI is particularly alarmed by the reported closure of CONUSI’s bank accounts at two financial institutions, including the state-owned Banco Nacional de Panamá. According to the union’s submission, these closures have made it more difficult to access its own funds and carry out normal trade union activities. SUNTRACS suffered the same, with its banks frozen and subjected to restrictions. Workers’ organisations must be able to manage their legitimate resources without undue interference. Any restrictions must have a lawful basis, follow fair and transparent procedures, and be subject to effective safeguards.

These form a wider pattern of anti-union actions, including legal harassment against union leaders, raids, restrictions on union activities and obstacles to collective bargaining. BWI calls for an end to the surveillance and unjust financial restrictions, and to hold all responsible for wrongdoing accountable. We also urge the ILO to examine the new information thoroughly and conduct a direct-contact mission to Panama to assess the situation and help secure effective protections for freedom of association.

BWI stands in firm solidarity with SUNTRACS, CONUSI and all Panamanian workers defending their rights, their organisations, their freedom and democracy. Their struggle is not theirs alone. When workers are surveilled, silenced, or punished for standing together, workers’ rights everywhere are put at risk. BWI will continue to stand with its affiliates and the broader labour movement in defending independent trade unions and the fundamental freedoms that make collective action possible.

We demand that the Panamanian government respect its international labour obligations, protect the right of every worker to organise freely, and ensure that trade union activity is never treated as a crime. Workers’ rights must be protected, not surveilled; trade unions must be respected, not intimidated.

Solidarity with SUNTRACS, CONUSI and the working people of Panama!