Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2009, published 99th ILC session (2010)

Protection of Wages Convention, 1949 (No. 95) - Panama (Ratification: 1970)

Article 12 of the Convention. Regular payment of wages. Referring to its previous comment concerning the payment of the 13th month’s wage to public sector employees, in the light of the observations made by the National Federation of Public Employees and Public Service Enterprise Workers (FENASEP), the Committee notes with interest the adoption of Act No. 19 of 2 March 2009 which establishes the right to payment of the 13th month’s wages not paid between 1989 and 1991. It recalls that, according to FENASEP, the payment of the 13th month’s wage was suspended between October 1989 and August 1991, representing an amount of around US$88 million owed to hundreds of thousands of public sector employees. The Committee notes that, under section 2 of Act No. 19 of 2 March 2009, the Government will proceed with payment of the amounts due as soon as public revenue permits. The Committee requests the Government to provide detailed information on any steps taken under the abovementioned Act.