Free Trade Zone Companies Reach Partial Agreement with Ortega, Discussions Continue
May 27, 2008 – Nicaragua Network Hotline
After the recent decision of several Asian companies operating garment
factories in Nicaragua’s Free Trade Zones to move their operations to
Asia, pressure has built on President Daniel Ortega’s government to
insure that other companies do not follow suit, which would leave tens of
thousands of Nicaraguans without jobs. On May 25 Ortega met with the
president of the Superior Council of Private Enterprise (COSEP), Jose Adan
Aguerri, and executives of ten Free Trade Zone companies. According to
Aguerri the executives expressed a number of concerns to the President but
committed themselves to remain in Nicaragua and to become more socially
responsible.
Among other things, it was agreed during the meeting that the National
Technological Institute (INATEC) would be allowed to train Free Trade Zone
workers and that the government would guarantee that both the Internal
Revenue and Nicaraguan customs would become more efficient in the
transactions concerning Free Trade Zone companies. Aguerri said that the
issue of the minimum wage had also been discussed but that they had come to
no agreement. Finally, it was decided that joint committees would be set up
to continue to discuss the issues raised during the coming weeks.
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