The Panama Canal will pay $569 million in wages and benefits during the current fiscal year, an amount that represents 55 percent of the total expenditures of the institution.

The total expenditures of the Canal are expected to be just over $1 billion.

There are about 10,000 Canal workers. The remaining $468 million will be used to pay for parts, fuel and maintenance.

The main source of income are tolls, which are expected to be just over $2 billion this year. Other major income streams are for services related to transit ($433.5 million) and the sale of energy ($127.1 million) and water ($28.9 million).

Compared with total revenues of the Canal, the payroll expenditure represents 21.6 percent.

Over the previous fiscal year, labor costs have increased $23 million. That figure does not include the resolution of outstanding contract negotiations, which are expected to increase labor costs starting in 2017 that could increase costs substantially.

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La Prensa