Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2004, published 93rd ILC session (2005)

Employment Service Convention, 1948 (No. 88) - Panama (Ratification: 1970)

1. Modernization of the employment service. The Committee notes the information and statistical data provided in the Government’s report received in September 2004, and the report of the Directorate-General of Employment for 1999-2004 communicated by the Government in the annex to its last report. It notes in particular the setting up of an electronic labour exchange with the assistance of ILO projects (Modernizing the labour administrations of Central America (MATAC) and Labour information and analysis system for Latin America (SIAL)), which enabled the registration of 21,438 new applications for employment, 2,676 vacant posts and the placement of 1,520 persons in the labour market. The Committee also notes the measures adopted to promote employment and vocational self-integration, and requests the Government to continue to provide any relevant information on the application of the Convention in practice, in accordance with Part VI of the report form.

2. Reorganization of the employment office network. The Government indicates that no study has been undertaken to evaluate the effectiveness of the various employment offices with a view to reorganizing the network. The Committee requests the Government to indicate progress made in the installation of employment offices in each of the regions of the country and to communicate the results of the studies undertaken in accordance with Article 3 of the Convention.

3. Participation of the social partners. The Committee notes with interest that in reply to the comments which it has been formulating for many years, the Government mentions a collaboration agreement concluded in 2000 between the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare (MITRADEL) and the Labour Foundation, one objective of which is the strengthening of social dialogue. Various measures have been adopted to this end, such as the promotion of the Labour Foundation at national and international levels, the setting up of workshops on its role at international level and the appeal to the Labour Foundation as assistant to the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare in the area of social dialogue. The Committee requests the Government to continue to provide information on the measures adopted, in collaboration with the social partners, to ensure the effective functioning of a free public employment service having a network of employment offices in sufficient numbers to meet the requirements of employers and workers in each of the geographical areas (Articles 1 to 5 of the Convention).