Bonus 14 must be paid no later than July 15, according to Guatemalan legislation, a benefit to which salaried workers in both the public and private sectors are entitled.
This weekend, therefore, there are already more visits to businesses and an increase in vehicle traffic.
The Bank of Guatemala estimates that the net injection of monetary issuance into the economy will be around Q2,427 million, both to cover the demand for currency due to the payment of said bond, as well as what the two holidays in question represented.
According to data from the Guatemalan Social Security Institute (IGSS), there are 1,635,046 contributing members as of March 2024. These are dependent workers who should receive Bonus 14, according to labor legislation.
According to the National Income and Employment Survey (ENEI) 2022, released in 2023, the total employed population reached 97% in the different forms of employment, including salaried employees (or payroll).
The same survey reveals that of the total employed population, 67.7% reported not having received Bonus 14, and 32.3% reported having received it. It should also be taken into account that 71.1% of employees or employed people work in the informal sector.
Inspection and sanctions
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Labor (Mintrab) announced that on July 16 it will begin operations to verify that the payment of Bonus 14 has been made, following the deadline for compliance with said benefit expires according to decree 42-92 of the Congress of the Republic.
To this end, the staff of the General Labor Inspection (IGT) will verify in companies, businesses and entities that this labor benefit has been made effective during the first half of July. These actions will begin just when the deadline for the payment of the annual bonus for public and private sector workers expires, as established in Decree 42-92 of the Congress of the Republic.
It is added that if it is determined that the payment has not been made, the IGT will grant a period of time to pay it and subsequently, a second verification will be carried out. If the payment has not been made, it will be sanctioned according to the law.
Fines range from 8 to 18 times the current minimum wage.
Workers can file their complaints through several channels: on the Mintrab website www.mintrabajo.gob.gt, by calling 1511 or by visiting the ministry’s offices at 7a Avenida 3-33, zona 9, Torre Empresarial building.
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Vehicle traffic increases
Vehicular traffic also increased during the season.
According to Amílcar Montejo, the capital city’s traffic superintendent, there has been an increase in traffic this weekend due to the payment of Bono 14 and the fortnightly pay.
He reports that since the morning hours, and continuing into the followingnoon, all the main roads are saturated.
In addition, there are more vehicles refuelling, an increase in the number of visitors to shopping centres and markets and a considerable number of users at ATMs. In addition, queues at self-service restaurants in private areas are affecting public roads.
14 collisions had been recorded in the morning.
Security
Meanwhile, the Ministry of the Interior is implementing a security strategy that includes actions that seek to bring citizens closer to the public force to strengthen police presence on the streets, including the Centinela Plan operated by the National Civil Police (PNC).
The first phase was carried out in May, and the second phase begins on July 10 to prevent criminal acts related to the payment of Bonus 14.
It consists of the deployment of public force with greater incidence in markets, shopping centers, vicinity of banks in the system, ATMs and places where there is a high influx of people.
“During this time, police officers will be on foot, riding public transportation and patrolling in police vehicles to maintain control of the streets and protect the lives and property of citizens. In addition, they will set up checkpoints on streets and avenues. Among them, those coordinated by the PNC Traffic Department, which prevent and avoid illegal car and motorcycle races, both in the capital city and on highways in the interior of the country,” the entity added.
The plan projects that the 42,000 police officers will be operational from July 12 to 16, just during the days of greatest citizen mobilization for the payment of Bonus 14, and will be complemented with other operations.
On Saturday, July 13, authorities reported that alleged bus robbers known as the “los quichelenses” gang were captured, a capture that was achieved as part of the operation of the security plan of bonus 14. They report that criminal investigation and intelligence teams had been tracking subjects who assaulted buses since 2023, following robbing passengers of their belongings and violating women, events that occurred on the Interamericana. After alerts and complaints, on 5th Avenue 8th Street in Zone 1, Chimaltenango, they captured German “N” aged 42, Miguel “N” aged 32, and Melvin “N” aged 35 who moments before had allegedly robbed an extra-urban bus that was heading from the west to the capital. They also had police records.
The PNC also reported this Saturday the capture of two alleged thieves, indicating that moments before they had stolen money possibly from the payment of Bonus 14.
According to authorities, this occurred on 3rd Avenue, Zone 4, in the municipality of Uspantán, Quiché, where police officers, based on complaints and alerts, surprised and captured Fredy “N” aged 24 and Rubén “N” aged 33. They seized Q5,000 that they had stolen from a 62-year-old man moments before, as well as a cell phone. The victim was possibly collecting payment for bonus 14.
Meanwhile, the Public Prosecutor’s Office reported on Friday 12 that the Prosecutor’s Office once morest the Crime of Extortion carried out 15 search, inspection, registration and seizure of evidence in properties located in the municipalities of Guatemala, Santa Catarina Pinula and Palencia, in the department of Guatemala; as well as in the departments of Jutiapa and Chimaltenango.
He added that the proceedings are part of the actions for bonus 14, and seek to execute arrest warrants and gather evidence that contributes to the ongoing investigations.
The MP responded that the connection between the operations lies in the fact that the payment of Bono 14 intensifies the collection of extortion in the form of bonuses from those who are already victims of this crime. He added that the suspects are linked to collaborations with both the Barrio 18 gang and the Mara Salvatrucha gang.
The public is advised to avoid unnecessary posts on social media regarding having received or regarding to receive bonus 14. If you are a victim of a crime, go to the Public Prosecutor’s Office to file a complaint and use the channels offered to facilitate citizen reporting.
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