Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2008, published 98th ILC session (2009)

Social Policy (Basic Aims and Standards) Convention, 1962 (No. 117) - Panama (Ratification: 1971)

The Committee notes that the Government’s report has not been received. It hopes that a report will be supplied for examination by the Committee at its next session and that it will contain full information on the matters raised in its previous direct request, which read as follows:

1. The Committee notes the report received in October 2003, in which the Government provided full information relating to the 1999 direct request.

2. Parts I and II of the Convention. Improvement of standards of living. The Committee notes the information provided concerning the measures and actions taken to harmonize plans for economic and social development. The Committee requests that the Government, in its next report, include an update on the way in which it is ensured that “the improvement of standards of living” is regarded as “the principal objective in the planning of economic development” (Article 2 of the Convention) and information on the results achieved in its fight against poverty.

3. The Committee notes with interest the information provided on the General Plan for the Use, Conservation and Development of the Canal Area and the documents from the Interoceanic Region Authority. It also notes the programmes aimed at promoting the award of land titles with emphasis on poor and indigenous rural areas. The Committee would be grateful if the Government continued to provide information on the manner in which it is ensured that the ownership and use of land and resources are controlled so that they are used, with due regard to customary rights, in the best interests of the inhabitants of the country (Article 4, paragraph (c)).

4. Part III. Migrant workers. In its report, the Government mentions studies concerning migratory movements that were undertaken following the population and housing censuses carried out in 2000 and the National Survey on Standards of Living carried out from August to November 2003. In this regard, the Committee draws the Government’s attention to the fact that it is difficult to prevent abusive practices involving migrant workers and their families. In the conclusions on a fair deal for migrant workers in a global economy, adopted in June 2004, the International Labour Conference proposed a non-binding multilateral framework, developed in agreement with the tripartite constituents, to assist member States to develop labour migration policies (Provisional Record No. 22, page 62 onwards, ILC, 92nd Session, Geneva 2004). The Government may consider this multilateral framework when taking measures to ensure the protection of migrant workers, as provided for in the Convention.

5. Part IV. Remuneration of workers. Advances on wages. The Committee refers to its previous comments and requests that the Government include in its next report any court rulings or administrative resolutions that have applied the provisions of section 161, paragraphs 3 and 13, of the Labour Code as required under Article 12 of the Convention.

6. Part VI. Education and training. The Committee thanks the Government for the document prepared by the Ministry of Education, entitled “Report to the Ministry of Labour and Labour Development on the Application of the Conventions Ratified with the International Labour Organization”, dated 18 June 2003. The Committee hopes that the Government will continue to include, in its future reports, information concerning the measures taken to progressively develop broad systems of education, vocational training and apprenticeship, and details regarding the way in which training in new techniques of production has been organized as part of the social policy giving effect to the Convention (Articles 15 and 16).