Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1999, published 88th ILC session (2000)

Labour Statistics Convention, 1985 (No. 160) - Panama (Ratification: 1996)

The Committee has noted the Government's first reports (covering the period up to June 1999) and requests the Government to provide further information on the following points.

Article 3 of the Convention. The Committee notes an apparent lack of consultation with representative organizations of employers and workers, in designing or revising the statistical concepts, definitions and methodology used. According to the Government's indications in the report, among the three principal authorities responsible for the collection and compilation of the different statistics covered by the Convention, only the Statistics and Census Department of the General Auditor of the Republic (Dirección de Estadística y Censo de la Contraloría General de la República) has consultations with subcommittees which include public employers. However no reference is made to those of workers. The Committee draws the attention of the Government to the requirement of consultation under this Article and asks the Government to indicate which steps it intends to undertake in order to consult the representative organizations of employers and workers in designing or revising the concepts, definitions and methodology used regarding labour statistics covered by the Convention.

Article 7. Noting that the most recent employment data from establishment surveys made available refer to 1994, the Committee draws the attention of the Government to the obligation to communicate the published statistics as soon as practicable to the ILO (in accordance with Article 5). If this survey is no longer conducted, it would be appreciated if the Government could say so.

Article 9(1). The Committee notes from available information that statistics of average monthly earnings are either limited to the metropolitan region (from the quarterly household survey) or to manufacturing (from the annual industrial survey). In addition, there is no evidence that any other source of data provides more frequent (monthly or quarterly) statistics of average earnings. Statistics of average hours of work (actually worked or paid for) do not seem to be compiled. The Committee therefore asks the Government to indicate what steps, if any, are envisaged to extend the coverage and to increase the frequency of statistics of average earnings, and to compile statistics of hours of work, along the lines of Paragraph 3(1) and (2) of ILO Recommendation No. 170, which the Government should take into consideration in accordance with Article 2. Otherwise, please indicate the reasons for the departures from them.

Article 9(2). The Committee notes that there is no evidence that statistics of average wage rates and normal hours of work are compiled, except for the information about statutory minimum wage rates. It asks the Government to indicate which steps, if any, are envisaged in order to compile such statistics according to the guidelines contained in Paragraph 4(1) and (2) of Recommendation No. 170 (in accordance with Article 2), or the reasons for the departures from them.

Article 10. The Committee notes that data on the distribution of employees by levels of earnings and hours of work are limited to the metropolitan region. It asks the Government to: (i) indicate which steps, if any, are envisaged to extend the coverage of the statistics; and (ii) state whether statistics on the structure of earnings and hours of work are actually compiled, according to the guidelines contained in Recommendation No. 170, Paragraph 5(1) and (2) (in accordance with Article 2).

Articles 9 and 10. In addition to the above points, the Committee draws the Government's attention to the requirements: (i) to communicate to the ILO the relevant statistics, in accordance with Article 5; and (ii) to communicate to the ILO the corresponding methodological information and its revisions, if any, in accordance with Article 6.

Article 12. The Committee asks the Government to indicate which of the international standards were taken into account regarding consumer price indices (in connection with Article 2).

Article 13. The Committee requests the Government to provide supplementary information on the practical application of concepts and to communicate the results of the 1997-98 survey to the ILO as soon as practicable in accordance with Article 5.

Article 14. The Committee notes that the Social Insurance Fund (Caja de Seguro Social -- CSS) has drawn attention to the difficulties caused by the collection of information by different agencies, stating that the production of statistical information was dispensed among different agencies, was out of date and was not always compiled for the purposes of accident prevention. It was also noted that there was considerable under-reporting of occupational diseases either because they were not declared by the workers or employers or because they were not recognized as such by the medical services of the CSS. The Committee notes that the Government has requested the technical assistance of the Office, and hopes that the Government will be able to report improvements on these aspects.

The Committee also asks the Government to indicate: (i) what steps, if any, are envisaged to extend the coverage of these statistics to include the self-employed and to collect information on work time lost; (ii) which of the international standards were taken into account (in connection with Article 2); (iii) which steps, if any, are envisaged to publish methodological information (Article 6).

Article 15. The Committee asks the Government to indicate: (i) which of the international standards were taken into account (in connection with Article 2); (ii) which steps, if any, are envisaged to publish methodological information (Article 6).

Article 16. The Committee notes the information supplied in respect of Article 11, obligations under which have not been accepted. It is for the purpose of clarifying the extent to which effect is already given to them, that the Committee is making the following remarks on Article 11: statistics on the level and structure of labour cost are not compiled as such. Available data are limited to average annual compensation of employees, per employee, in manufacturing. The Committee asks the Government to state whether it is envisaged to collect, compile and publish statistics on the level and structure of average labour cost by economic activity, according to the guidelines contained in Recommendation No. 170, Paragraph 6. It hopes that the Government will continue to supply any statistics compiled on the subjects covered by Article 11, as well as particulars of their sources, methodology and publication, in accordance with Article 16(4).