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1. The Committee notes the information contained in the Government's report and attachments, and in particular notes with interest the promulgation of Act No. 4 of 29 January 1999 which establishes equality of opportunity for women.

2. Discrimination on grounds of sex. Observing that, according to the Government's report, there have been no training and dissemination activities since 1998 under the Programme for Training and Dissemination of the Rights of Women in the World of Work owing to the lack of financial resources, the Committee refers to paragraphs 251 to 253 of its 1998 General Survey on equality in employment and occupation in which it noted with concern the tendency in some countries to abandon or drastically reduce programmes intended to remedy inequalities in order to decrease public expenditure in the name of economic efficiency [...] and recalls that these programmes must be viewed in a broader perspective, since the exclusion of part of the active population is costly. The Committee considers that the Government has taken a significant step in promulgating said Act No. 4 and that it is important it should continue making efforts to give effect to the Act. The Committee requests the Government to supply detailed information on the action undertaken and results achieved in giving effect to section 11 of chapter V (Labour) on the public policy that the State will establish to promote equality of opportunity in employment and also to section 17 of chapter IX (Education and culture) on the public policy in relation to education and culture, to give women equal opportunities. The Committee also notes that the Government is undertaking project PAN/B7-301/95/10 for the promotion of equal opportunities in Panama (PROIGUALDAD) which is the result of the consensus between the women's movement and the State of Panama and for the implementation of which a financing agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Panama has been signed. Noting that this project comprises six sub-projects and is scheduled for completion by the year 2002, the Committee requests the Government to inform it on the results achieved and the possible continuation to be given to PROIGUALDAD from 2002 onwards.

3. Please provide information on the measures for application of the abovementioned Act No. 4 in regard to rural women (section 26), Afro-Panamanian women (section 27) and women with disabilities (section 28) in regard to equality in employment.

4. The Committee notes Act No. 9 of 20 June 1994 which establishes and regulates the administrative profession and of which sections 138(14) and 152(9) sanction sexual harassment with dismissal.

5. The Committee notes with interest the promulgation of Executive Decree No. 46 of 28 December 1998 establishing standards in regard to persons with disabilities and adopting other provisions related to the equalization of opportunities and facilities which should be provided for the population. It also notes with interest the activities carried out by the Minister of Labour and Labour Development to promote equality of opportunity in employment for disabled people, including the first national consultation meeting on an action programme on the social and economic integration of persons with disabilities held with the support of the ILO, Geneva, and the regional office in San Jos , Costa Rica. Please continue to supply information on the application of the Act.

6. Article 3(d) of the Convention. Please supply information on the manner in which the national policy designed to promote equality of opportunity and treatment in respect of employment and occupation referred to in Article 2 is implemented in respect of employment under the direct control of a national authority.