Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2001, published 90th ILC session (2002)

Employment Policy Convention, 1964 (No. 122) - Panama (Ratification: 1970)

1. Further to the direct request of 1998, the Government has submitted a detailed and full report for the period ending 15 October 2000. The Committee notes with interest the information contained in the report, as well as the relevant and timely documentation attached. The Committee notes in particular the National Government’s document "Social Development Policy and Strategy 2000 04", which explains that the first strategic approach to correcting the structural and cyclical causes of poverty in Panama is massive generation of productive jobs so that Panamanian families have access to a stable and adequate income. According to the statistics sent by the Government, the unemployment rate dropped from 13.5 per cent to 11.6 per cent between August 1998 and August 1999, but rose again to 13.3 per cent in August 2000. The Committee would be grateful if in its next report the Government would state whether particular difficulties have arisen in reaching the employment objectives set in the Social Development Policy and Strategy, 2000 2004, and the Plan for economic, social and financial development with investment in human capital (Articles 1 and 2 of the Convention).

2. The Government indicates in its report that two track development has emerged in Panama in which the good national averages hide vast disparities in well being and access to opportunities. The Committee notes that urban poverty accounts for 23 per cent of total poverty (230,000 persons), non indigenous rural poverty accounts for 58 per cent (590,000 thousand persons), and indigenous poverty for 19 per cent (197,000 persons). The Committee welcomes the fact that, in October 2000, the ILO embarked on an analysis and revision of employment policies (ARPE), the aim of which is to help Panama with a substantive evaluation of the achievements and effectiveness of its economic and social policies and their impact on the labour market. The Committee trusts that in its next report the Government will be in a position to indicate the measures taken as a result of the recommendations and proposals of the ARPE to promote decent work, improve conditions for employability and alleviate poverty.

3. The Committee requests that the Government also provide information on the measures adopted to take account of the difficulties of certain categories of workers in finding lasting employment (women, young people, elderly workers, workers in precarious employment and the informal sector, indigenous people).

4. The Committee notes the various programmes and projects being implemented under the auspices of the General Directorate of Employment of the Ministry of Labour (Employment Fair Project, Employers Self management Programme, Micro enterprise Credit Programme, Electronic Labour Exchange). It requests that the Government include in its next report an evaluation on the lasting employment generated as a result of the implementation of the above programmes.

5. With regard to the Labour Training Management programmes and projects designed to train the unemployed, the Committee would be grateful if the Government would indicate the results achieved, in terms of labour market integration of the trainees, by the various projects mentioned in the report. The Committee notes with interest the document of the National Vocational Training Institute (INAFORP) "Measures and actions implemented in the framework of the Employment Policy Convention, 1997 2000" and would be grateful if the Government would continue to send similar documents. Please give further details of the coordination planned between the activities of INAFORP and those of the Panamanian Training and Employment System. The Committee would once again suggest considering the Human Resources Development Convention, 1975 (No. 142), which contains appropriate provisions and guidelines for the formulation and application of employment policy measures such that all workers have access to requisite training for a suitable job in which they can use their training and skills.

6. The Committee notes that in 1999 three export processing zones were approved which would provide 352 direct and 40 indirect jobs. The Committee requests once again information on how productive and lasting employment is created in the multi sectoral export zones.

7. Article 3. The Committee notes the agreement on cooperation between the Ministry of Labour and Employment Development and the Labour Foundation concluded on 14 September 2000 with a view to promoting a strategic plan and strengthening and promoting the development of workers and employers. The Committee hopes that in its next report the Government will be in a position to provide examples of the manner in which the representatives of employers and workers have been consulted and in which their support has been enlisted in the implementation of the policies and strategies cited above, particularly in the context of the ARPE. Please also provide information on the consultations held with representatives of other sectors of the economically active population such as workers in the rural sector and the informal sector.