FOCUS ON PANAMA
OHTA is proud to share the stories of occupational hygienists around the world who are working with us to advance worker health. At the same time, we hope to inspire Global Link readers with interesting facts on the people, industries, and workers of the particular country in focus.
In this edition, Global Link focuses on the Central American country of Panama. Statista.com reports that the current population of Panama is about 4.3 million with the distribution of employment listed as 14.41% agriculture, 17.72% industry, and 67.88 % in the service sector.
Panama’s most well-known attraction is the Panama Canal which connects the Atlantic and Pacific oceans across the Isthmus of Panama. It is 40 miles long and it takes about 10 hours to get from one side to the other. The Panama Canal has been described as the most crucial piece of infrastructure supporting the free flow of international trade and goods in the western hemisphere (emerald.com). As of 2021, the Panama Canal Authority who handles its management and operation had approximately 9,000 employees…