On local boats, the Código de Trabajo caps the day shift at 8 hours and overtime at 3 hours a day. On commercial ships, the Maritime Labour Convention 2006, approved by Panama in 2009, requires 10 hours' rest in 24. Ley 7 of 2018 bans sexual harassment, bullying, racism and sexism, and makes employers investigate complaints.
Working hours under the Código de Trabajo
Crew employed by a Panamanian charter company or owner fall under the Código's general hours rules:
- Normal shifts (Art. 31). A day shift is up to 8 hours, 48 a week. A night shift is up to 7 hours, 42 a week. A mixed shift is up to 7½ hours, 45 a week. The day period runs from 6 am to 6 pm.
- Overtime (Arts. 33 and 36). No more than 3 hours of overtime a day or 9 a week. It is paid at 25% extra by day, 50% at night and 75% when it extends a night shift.
- Breaks (Art. 39). A break of 30 minutes to 2 hours during the working day. Someone who works a day shift and then a night shift must get at least 12 continuous hours of rest.
- Weekly rest (Arts. 40–41). The weekly rest day is both a right and a duty, preferably on Sunday. A different day can be agreed in some cases.
A sunrise pickup, a full day at Las Perlas and the clean-up afterwards can easily reach 12 hours. Under these limits, that day needs a roster or a second captain, not just goodwill. Pay is covered in crew contracts and pay.
MLC 2006: hours of rest at sea
Panama approved the ILO Maritime Labour Convention 2006 by Ley 2 of 6 January 2009, published in Gaceta Oficial 26200. Standard A2.3 sets the limits either as maximum hours of work or as minimum hours of rest:
| Measure | In any 24 hours | In any 7 days |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum work | 14 hours | 72 hours |
| Minimum rest | 10 hours | 77 hours |
The convention applies to ships ordinarily engaged in commercial activities. A private yacht used only by its owner is outside it. A commercial yacht on the Panamanian registry may be inside it. The convention lets a flag state exempt some ships under 200 gross tonnage that do not go on international voyages. Ask the AMP, or the flag state of a foreign yacht, how it applies to your boat.
On Panamanian-registered ships, Decreto Ley 8 of 1998 also requires crewing levels that keep hours within the ILO limits Panama has ratified.
Fatigue in practice: heat, night passages and the canal
Even if you are within the legal limits, fatigue builds in Panama in ways a Florida crew might not expect:
- Heat and sun. Crew working on deck in humid tropical heat dehydrate faster than they notice. Put water and shade into the roster.
- Canal transits. A southbound small-boat transit usually starts in the evening and finishes the next afternoon, with a night on Gatún Lake. Line handlers need sleep before the second set of locks.
- Night runs. Passages to San Blas or the Azuero coast mean night watches. Use a written watch schedule with a minimum rest period.
- Rainy-season squalls. From May to November, storms and lightning can turn an easy return into a long, tense hour on the helm.
Keep a simple hours log for each crew member: start, finish and breaks. It protects the crew, and it is the record an employer needs if overtime or an accident is ever disputed. The Florida view is in yacht crew fatigue.
Harassment: Ley 7 of 2018
Ley 7 of 14 February 2018, which adopts measures to prevent, prohibit and punish discriminatory acts, was published in Gaceta Oficial 28465-A. Summaries by La Estrella and the law firm Littler (both secondary) describe it like this:
- What it covers. Sexual harassment, workplace bullying (acoso laboral), racism and sexism. Harassment is described as systematic or persistent acts or omissions that seek sexual favours or humiliate a person.
- Who it applies to. Public and private employers.
- The employer's duties. Have an internal policy and complaint procedure, through internal work rules or company policy. Investigate complaints confidentially. Close each case with a written report within three months of the complaint.
- Penalties. Fines for the employer, set by the labour courts, plus possible damages claims by the worker.
On a small boat the person harassing a crew member may be the captain, a guest or the owner. The employer's duty is the same in each case. Write the procedure down, name someone outside the boat to receive complaints, and act on the first report.
Conduct rules worth putting in writing
- No alcohol or drugs for crew while on duty or on call, and a clear rule on drinking with guests.
- The captain's authority on safety, including the right to end a trip.
- Rules on guest relationships, phones and social media posts showing guests.
- How tips are shared, so disputes do not turn into conflict on board.
- The complaint route under Ley 7, and a promise of no retaliation.
Brief these on the first day; the crew first-day orientation sheet has room for them. US-style rules are compared in yacht crew conduct and harassment.
Your practical starting checklist
- Find out whether your boat is under the Código only, or also under MLC 2006.
- Draw up a roster that keeps overtime within 3 hours a day and 9 a week.
- For night passages and canal transits, write a watch plan with a minimum rest period.
- Keep a daily hours log for each crew member.
- Write a Spanish harassment policy and complaint procedure under Ley 7 of 2018.
- Brief the conduct rules and the complaint route on each new crew member's first day.
Frequently asked questions
How many hours can yacht crew work in a day in Panama?
Under the Código de Trabajo, a day shift is 8 hours plus up to 3 hours of overtime, and no more than 9 hours of overtime in a week. On ships covered by MLC 2006, the limit is 14 hours of work in any 24, or at least 10 hours of rest.
Has Panama ratified the Maritime Labour Convention?
Yes. Ley 2 of 6 January 2009 approved MLC 2006 in full. It applies to ships ordinarily engaged in commercial activities, not to purely private yachts.
What does Ley 7 of 2018 require from a small charter company?
An internal policy and complaint procedure against harassment and discrimination. Each complaint must be investigated confidentially and closed within three months. Size of company is not an exemption.
¿Qué hago si sufro acoso a bordo?
Anote fechas, hechos y testigos. Presente la queja por el procedimiento interno de la empresa, que según la Ley 7 de 2018 debe resolverse en un máximo de tres meses. Si no hay respuesta, consulte al MITRADEL o a un abogado laboral.
The next question to answer
Contracts, overtime pay, vacation and the décimo. Read Crew contracts and pay in Panama.
The pillar guide to crew work in Panama. Read Yacht crew jobs in Panama.
Why canal days are long for crew. Read What transit day looks like.
Same topic in Florida: coming from the US? Compare One moment, please....
Official resources
Use the relevant Panamanian authority for current requirements and fees. These resources are the next place to check; a practical recommendation is not an agency determination.
- Código de Trabajo de Panamá, arts. 31, 33, 36, 39–41 (Órgano Judicial copy) ↗
- Ley 2 de 2009, aprueba el Convenio sobre el trabajo marítimo 2006 (Órgano Judicial) ↗
- Decreto Ley 8 de 1998, trabajo en el mar (Panama Ship Registry copy) ↗
- La Estrella de Panamá: Ley 7 de 2018, acoso, normas y aplicación, May 2019 (secondary, opinion) ↗
- Littler: Panama's new law prohibiting harassment, racism and sexism in the workplace (secondary, law firm) ↗