Observation (CEACR) - adopted 1998, published 87th ILC session (1999)

Abolition of Forced Labour Convention, 1957 (No. 105) - Panama (Ratification: 1966)

Article 1(c) of the Convention. In previous observations, the Committee has referred to section 1120 of the Commercial Code, under which seafarers who abandon their vessel may be required, on pain of imprisonment, to complete the term of their contract and to work for one month without pay. This contradicts the Convention, which prohibits the use of forced or compulsory labour -- including prison labour -- as a means of labour discipline. The Committee notes from the Government's report that the Maritime Labour Bill was tabled in the legislature in September 1997, but that the Government subsequently transmitted the Committee's comments on this Convention to be taken into account.

The Committee hopes that the new legislation will ensure that seafarers are no longer subject to the penalty of imprisonment involving forced or compulsory labour as a means of labour discipline, in order to comply with the Convention. As regards the question of the freedom of seafarers to terminate their employment, the Committee refers to its observation under Convention No. 29.