Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2012, published 102nd ILC session (2013)

Equal Remuneration Convention, 1951 (No. 100) - Panama (Ratification: 1958)

Article 1 of the Convention. Work of equal value. In its previous comments the Committee referred to the need to amend section 10 of the Labour Code, which is limited to the payment of equal wages “for equal work in the service of the same employer, performed in the same job, working day, conditions of efficiency and seniority”, so as to give legislative expression to the principle established by the Convention of equal remuneration for men and women for work of equal value. The Committee takes note of the Government’s statement that it is considering the possibility of setting up a tripartite Higher Labour Council to regulate social dialogue and of creating an institutional forum for the promotion of consensus. The Government states that it may consider amending the Labour Code along those lines. The Committee asks the Government to continue providing information on the creation of a Higher Labour Council and on any decision the Council might take on amending the Labour Code so as to give legislative expression to the principle of equal remuneration for men and women for work of equal value, as well as on any other progress in this area. The Committee also asks the Government to take steps to promote a better understanding of the principle embodied in the Convention among the authorities and among employers, workers and their organizations.

Equal remuneration. In its previous observation the Committee took note of the observations of the National Federation of Public Employees and Public Service Enterprise Workers (FENASEP) on the violation of the principle of equal remuneration for work of equal value in the public sector and the fact that no wage rates had been fixed without discrimination based on sex. The Committee notes the Government’s indication that all public servants earning the minimum wage, without distinction, have been granted a wage increase and that steps are under way to introduce a system for assessing effort and performance. It also states that the National Vocational and Development Training Institute (INAMU), established under Act No. 71 of 23 December 2009, is working on a public equal opportunities policy that will contain guidelines for incorporating women in development and equalizing the remuneration of men and women. The Committee notes the Government’s statement regarding the steps taken by the National Vocational and Human Development Training Institute (INADEH) to train women in non-traditional activities. The Government attaches detailed statistics on the remuneration of men and women in the public and private sectors. The Committee observes, however, that it is not possible to assess the evolution of the gender pay gap from the statistics provided by the Government. The Committee notes that there is still extensive occupational segregation (55,167 men and 15,484 women in the manufacturing sector, 100,180 men and 3,802 women in construction, 23,865 men and 52,404 women in teaching) and that most women are employed in lower paid jobs and in a lower wage range. As to the wage gap, 0.5 per cent of men and 1 per cent of women in the teaching sector earn less than 100 balboas, while 2.9 per cent of men and 0.7 per cent of women earn 3,000 balboas or more. The Committee asks the Government to continue taking concrete steps with regard to education and vocational training so as to broaden women’s employment opportunities, reduce the marked occupational segregation in the labour market and reduce the gender pay gap. The Committee specifically asks the Government to provide information on the measures adopted by INAMU and INADEH on the subject. The Committee also asks the Government to provide information on any developments in this area, as well as up-to-date statistics disaggregated by sex showing the evolution of the gender pay gap in the public and private sectors.