Summary.
Law 118 designates January 9 as National Sovereignty Day and provides for its observance as a day of national mourning in Panama. It also governs the observance and amends the Labor Code.
What it covers.
- The observance of National Sovereignty Day.
- The closure of public offices and private businesses.
- Commemorative activities in public offices and educational institutions.
- The mandatory day of rest under the Labor Code.
Who it applies to.
- Public offices.
- Private businesses.
- Panamanian radio and television broadcasters.
- Educational institutions and the Ministry of Education (Ministerio de Educación).
Key points.
- January 9 of each year is National Sovereignty Day, commemorating the patriotic events of January 1964.Art. 1
- The day is observed as a day of national mourning. Public offices and private businesses close, and the National Flag flies at half-mast.Art. 2
- Public offices hold commemorative events immediately before, on or after January 9 and honor those who died for national sovereignty.Art. 3
- Panamanian radio and television broadcasters seek to devote at least one hour of their January 9 programming to Panama’s patriotic movements.Art. 4
- Educational institutions include the commemoration in their annual activity calendars and hold related events on the dates they set. The Ministry of Education (Ministerio de Educación) must comply with and enforce this provision.Art. 5
- The third-to-last paragraph of Article 46 of the Labor Code is amended: it governs the transfer of the mandatory day of rest for November 28 when it falls on specified weekdays and keeps the January 9 day of rest on its date.Art. 6
- All authorities of the Republic assist in implementing the Law.Art. 7
- The Law supersedes Law 13 of January 30, 1967 and amends the third-to-last paragraph of Article 46 of the Labor Code.Art. 8
Validity and changes.
- Law 13 of January 30, 1967Art. 8: supersedes Law 13 of January 30, 1967
- Labor CodeArt. 6, Art. 8: amend the third-to-last paragraph of Article 46