US banana giant Chiquita to return to Panama, rehire dismissed workers

US banana giant Chiquita Brands will return to Panama and rehire thousands of workers it dismissed after ceasing its operations in the country three months ago due to a strike, the Panamanian government announced on Friday.

The decision was made during a meeting in Brazil between Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino and the executives of Chiquita, after several weeks of discussions between the government and the US company under the control of Brazilian businesses. According to the agreement, Chiquita will hire about 3,000 workers in a first phase and another 2,000 later.