Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2007, published 97th ILC session (2008)

Equality of Treatment (Accident Compensation) Convention, 1925 (No. 19) - Panama (Ratification: 1970)

The Committee notes the information provided by the Government in its report and the attached statistical data. It would be grateful if the Government would provide additional information in its next report on the following points.

Article 1, paragraph 1, of the Convention. According to the report provided by the Government, section 78 of Act No. 51 of 2005 reforming the Organic Act governing the Social Insurance Fund and other provisions specifies that foreign workers providing services in the country cannot be prohibited from coverage under the compulsory insurance scheme. The Government, however, adds that the Social Insurance Fund does not grant to the nationals of other countries which have ratified this Convention the same treatment as that granted to Panamanian nationals who are covered by the scheme. While taking due note of this information, the Committee would be grateful if the Government would provide further information on the differences in treatment by the Social Insurance Fund in respect of nationals of other countries that are parties to this Convention in relation to that granted to Panamanian nationals in the event of industrial accidents. Please also provide any relevant legislative text in this respect. The Committee recalls that each Member which ratifies Convention No. 19 undertakes, by virtue of the above provision, to grant to the nationals of any other Member which shall have ratified the Convention, who suffer personal injury due to industrial accidents happening in its territory or to their dependants, the same treatment in respect of workers’ compensation as it grants to its own nationals.

Part V of the report form. The Committee would also be grateful if the Government would provide information in its next report, including statistics on the number and nationality of foreign workers employed in Panama.