Child Labor and Forced Labor Reports
Panama
Moderate Advancement
In 2022, Panama made moderate advancement in efforts to eliminate the worst forms of child labor. Panama passed Law 285, establishing pecuniary penalties, suspension, and closure of commercial premises for companies found using child labor. The government also increased its number of labor inspectors from 105 to 198 and created new sub-committees to address child labor in the provinces of Chiriquí, Herrera, Panamá East, and Panamá Oeste. In addition, the government prepared a new 5-year National Action Plan Against Trafficking in Persons and developed a network of private sector companies committed to eradicating child labor. However, children in Panama are subjected to the worst forms of child labor, including in commercial sexual exploitation, sometimes as a result of human trafficking. Children also perform dangerous tasks in agriculture. Although the government made meaningful efforts in all relevant areas during the reporting period, Panamanian law allows minors under age 16 to engage in hazardous work within training facilities in violation of international standards. Moreover, labor law enforcement agencies lack the financial and human resources necessary to fulfill their mandates. Finally, existing social programs are insufficient to address the full scope of the child labor problem in the country, in particular for children living in rural areas and from indigenous and Afro-Panamanian communities.
Table 1 provides key indicators on children's work and education in Panama.
| Children | Age | Percent |
| Working (% and population) | 5 to 14 | 4.5 (33,594) |
| Working children by sector | 5 to 14 | |
| Agriculture | 71.1 | |
| Industry | 3.5 | |
| Services | 25.4 | |
| Attending School (%) | 5 to 14 | 95.7 |
| Combining Work and School (%) | 7 to 14 | 5.0 |
| Primary Completion Rate (%) | 94.2 |
Source for primary completion rate: Data from 2021, published by UNESCO Institute for Statistics, 2023. (1)
Source for all other data: International Labor Organization’s analysis of statistics from Encuesta de Trabajo Infantil (ETI), 2016. (2)
Based on a review of available information, Table 2 provides an overview of children's work by sector and activity.
| Sector/Industry | Activity |
|---|---|
| Agriculture | Production of coffee, melons, and onions (3-8) |
| Raising livestock, including cattle and poultry (3,9,10) | |
| Fishing† (3,4,8-10) | |
| Industry | Construction,† including painting and carpentry (8,9,11) |
| Services | Domestic work† (3,9,10,12,13) |
| Waste collection in garbage dumps† (8,14) | |
| Street work,† including vending,† washing cars, shining shoes,† and collecting recyclables† (3,4,8,10,11,15) | |
| Categorical Worst Forms of Child Labor‡ | Forced domestic work (16,17) |
| Use in the production of pornography, sometimes as a result of human trafficking (3,4,8) | |
| Commercial sexual exploitation, sometimes as a result of human trafficking (4,8,12,16,18) | |
| Use in illicit activities, including in drug production and drug trafficking (8,10) |
† Determined by national law or regulation as hazardous and, as such, relevant to Article 3(d) of ILO C. 182.
‡ Child labor understood as the worst forms of child labor per se under Article 3(a)–(c) of ILO C. 182.
Children in Panama are subjected to commercial sexual exploitation, as well as forced labor, particularly domestic servitude. (16) They also perform dangerous tasks in agriculture, for which their working conditions may involve the use of chemicals, machinery, machetes, and other dangerous tools. (8,12) In addition, children working as street vendors are vulnerable to exploitation, gang activity, harassment, abuse, and vehicular accidents. (12)
Although the Panamanian Constitution recognizes the right to education without discrimination, indigenous, migrant, and Afro-Panamanian children in rural communities face barriers to accessing education due to a lack of transportation, documentation, infrastructure, quality sanitation, technology, and teachers, particularly in autonomous indigenous areas, or comarcas. (4,8,10,11) Some schools lack potable water and electricity, and in some cases, students in different grades are forced to share the same classroom. (10) Children of indigenous descent often live in difficult to reach areas and face severe inequity in education access. (8) Indigenous children have very low school enrollment rates, especially in secondary and higher education. (19) Panamanian law requires that schools integrate children with disabilities, but most public schools do not have adequate facilities for these children. (20)
Panama has ratified all key international conventions concerning child labor (Table 3).
| Convention | Ratification |
| ILO C. 138, Minimum Age | ✓ |
| ILO C. 182, Worst Forms of Child Labor | ✓ |
| UN CRC | ✓ |
| UN CRC Optional Protocol on Armed Conflict | ✓ |
| UN CRC Optional Protocol on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography | ✓ |
| Palermo Protocol on Trafficking in Persons | ✓ |
The government has established laws and regulations related to child labor (Table 4). However, gaps exist in Panama's legal framework to adequately protect children from the worst forms of child labor, including regulations that permit children to perform hazardous work starting at age 14 while participating in training programs.
| Standard | Meets International Standards | Age | Legislation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Age for Work | Yes | 14 | Article 70 of the Constitution; Articles 508, 509 and 716 of the Family Code; Articles 117, 119, and 123 of the Labor Code (21-23) |
| Minimum Age for Hazardous Work | No | 18 | Article 510 of the Family Code; Article 203 of the Penal Code; Article 4 of Executive Decree No. 19 of 2006; Article 118 of the Labor Code (21-26) |
| Identification of Hazardous Occupations or Activities Prohibited for Children | Yes | Articles 2, 2A, and 2B of Executive Decree No. 19 of 2006; Article 118 of the Labor Code (23,24,26) | |
| Prohibition of Forced Labor | Yes | Articles 207 and 456 of the Penal Code; Article 489 of the Family Code; Articles 4 and 63 of Law 79 on Human Trafficking; Article 21 of the Constitution (21,22,25,27) | |
| Prohibition of Child Trafficking | Yes | Articles 205–208 and 456 of the Penal Code; Article 489.17 of the Family Code; Article 63 of Law 79 on Human Trafficking (22,25,27) | |
| Prohibition of Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children | Yes | Articles 179–187, 189–191, 202, 203, 207, and 456 of the Penal Code; Article 63 of Law 79 on Human Trafficking (25,27) | |
| Prohibition of Using Children in Illicit Activities | Yes | Articles 318, 333, and 336 of the Penal Code; Article 489.16 of the Family Code; Article 2.16 of Executive Decree No. 19 of 2006 (22,25,26) | |
| Minimum Age for Voluntary State Military Recruitment | N/A† | ||
| Prohibition of Compulsory Recruitment of Children by (State) Military | N/A† | ||
| Prohibition of Military Recruitment by Non-state Armed Groups | Yes | Article 448 of the Penal Code (25) | |
| Compulsory Education Age | Yes | 15 | Articles 34 and 45 of the Law on Education; Article 489 of the Family Code; Article 95 of the Constitution (21,22,28,29) |
| Free Public Education | Yes | Articles 34 and 41 of the Law on Education; Article 95 of the Constitution (21,28,29) |
† Country has no standing military (21)
In 2022, the Government of Panama ratified ILO convention 129 on inspection in agricultural work, which is meant to strengthen the country's labor inspection capacity in agricultural sectors. (30) Law 285 was also approved by the president on February 15, 2022. This law establishes protections for children related to economic exploitation, commercial sexual exploitation, and hazardous work. (31) The law also divided the responsibility for child labor issues between two agencies: the National Secretariat for Children, Adolescents and Family (SENNIAF) is now responsible for child labor issues in the informal sector, while the Ministry of Labor (MITRADEL) is responsible for child labor issues in the formal sector. In addition, the new law provides pecuniary penalties, suspension of business licenses or certificates of operation, and closure of commercial premises for companies promoting child labor. (8,31)
Panama has a list of hazardous occupations prohibited for children under age 18, but it permits children to perform hazardous work in training programs starting at age 14, in violation of international standards. (24) Although the Constitution, Family Code, and Labor Code set the minimum age for employment at age 14, the Family Code and Labor Code specify exceptions for agricultural work. (21-23) Article 119 of the Labor Code allows children between the ages of 12 and 15 to perform light work in agriculture if the work is outside of regular school hours. The Labor Code, however, does not define the kinds of activities children may perform as light work. (23) In addition, the minimum age for work is lower than the compulsory education age, which may encourage children to leave school before the completion of compulsory education. (21-23,28,29)
The government has established institutional mechanisms for the enforcement of laws and regulations on child labor (Table 5). However, gaps exist within the operations of enforcement agencies that may hinder adequate enforcement of their child labor laws.
| Organization/Agency | Role & Activities |
|---|---|
| Ministry of Labor (MITRADEL) | Enforces child labor laws through two directorates with direct authority over child labor matters: the Directorate Against Child Labor and for the Protection of Adolescent Workers (DIRETIPAT), and the Labor Inspection Directorate. DIRETIPAT is responsible for overseeing the enforcement of laws related to working children, planning and executing public policies, and carrying out education programs on child labor for employers, parents, and children. (12,32,33) DIRETIPAT also manages the Direct Government Action Program for the Prevention and Eradication of Child Labor. Refers cases of children found in exploitative work to the Child and Adolescent Courts, or to the National Secretariat for Childhood, Adolescence, and Family (SENNIAF), which conducts inspections in the informal sector. (12) The Labor Inspection Directorate enforces the Labor Code in areas in which children may be working, particularly in the formal sector. (12) |
| Attorney General's Office | Investigates and prosecutes crimes of sexual exploitation. Investigations are initiated by the Judicial Investigative Directorate, after which cases are passed to the prosecutors. (12) |
| Juvenile Police | Assists, collaborates, and coordinates with authorities and organizations to address the education, prevention, protection, and rehabilitation of children, including those in child labor. (34) It is a special body of the National Police. (10) |
Labor Law Enforcement
In 2022, labor law enforcement agencies in Panama took actions to address child labor (Table 6). However, gaps exist within the authority of the Ministry of Labor (MITRADEL) that may hinder adequate labor law enforcement, including insufficient allocation of financial resources.
| Overview of Labor Law Enforcement | 2021 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| Labor Inspectorate Funding | $1,151,738 (10) | $1,071,188 (35) |
| Number of Labor Inspectors | 105 (10) | 198 (8) |
| Mechanism to Assess Civil Penalties | Yes (23) | Yes (23) |
| Training for Labor Inspectors Provided | Yes (10) | Yes (8) |
| Number of Labor Inspections Conducted at Worksite | 14,686 (36) | 29,866 (8) |
| Number of Child Labor Violations Found | 4 (10) | 7 (8) |
| Number of Child Labor Violations for Which Penalties Were Imposed | 0 (10) | 7 (8) |
| Number of Child Labor Penalties Imposed that Were Collected | 0 (10) | Unknown (8) |
| Routine Inspections Conducted | Yes (10) | Yes (8) |
| Routine Inspections Targeted | Yes (10) | Yes (8) |
| Unannounced Inspections Permitted | Yes (23) | Yes (23) |
| Unannounced Inspections Conducted | Yes (10) | Yes (8) |
| Complaint Mechanism Exists | Yes (10) | Yes (8) |
| Reciprocal Referral Mechanism Exists Between Labor Authorities and Social Services | Yes (10) | Yes (8) |
In 2022, MITRADEL identified 49 cases of child labor. (8) It also nearly doubled its number of labor inspectors by adding 93 to its labor inspectorate in 2022, for a total of 198 inspectors. (8,37) However, MITRADEL reported that only 20 inspectors focus exclusively on child labor, and that this number is insufficient to ensure child labor prevention and compliance of existing laws. (8,35) The number of labor inspections conducted at the workplace is a high number of inspections conducted by each inspector, and it is unknown whether this high number affects the quality and scope of inspections. (38) MITRADEL also reported a need for additional funding for tools such as telephones, laptops, and vehicles to carry out their work. (4,8,10,39)
Criminal Law Enforcement
In 2022, criminal law enforcement agencies in Panama took actions to address child labor (Table 7). However, gaps exist within the operations of enforcement agencies that may hinder adequate criminal law enforcement, including insufficient allocation of financial resources and a lack of enforcement data made available.
| Overview of Criminal Law Enforcement | 2021 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| Training for Criminal Investigators Provided | Yes (10) | Unknown (8) |
| Number of Investigations | Unknown (10) | Unknown (8) |
| Number of Prosecutions Initiated | Unknown (10) | Unknown (8) |
| Number of Convictions | Unknown (10) | Unknown (8) |
| Imposed Penalties for Violations Related to the Worst Forms of Child Labor | Unknown (10) | Unknown (8) |
| Reciprocal Referral Mechanism Exists Between Criminal Authorities and Social Services | Yes (10) | Yes (8) |
The government did not provide information on the number of investigations and prosecutions, or the amount of funding provided for investigations for inclusion in this report. The Public Prosecutor's Office contains regional prosecutor offices that oversee indigenous issues in the country's comarcas; however, their effectiveness is hampered by the office's lack of fuel, boats, canoes, outboard motors, and four-wheel drive vehicles. (8) The Trafficking in Persons Commission and the Organized Crime Special Prosecutor's Office have both indicated that it is difficult to prosecute trafficking in persons cases, partially because judges lack knowledge of relevant laws. (40) The government also reported a number of cases in which companies sanctioned for violating child labor laws have not paid their required fines. (8,35)
The government has established a key mechanism to coordinate its efforts to address child labor (Table 8).
| Coordinating Body | Role & Activities |
|---|---|
| Committee for the Eradication of Child Labor and the Protection of Adolescent Workers (CETIPPAT) | Public-private institution led by the First Lady of Panama and includes MITRADEL, the ministries of Education, Health, and Agriculture, and representatives from civil society and organizations of workers and employers. (10,12,41) Conducts various efforts to address child labor, including national child labor surveys. (42,43) During the reporting period, the committee created new sub-committees for the provinces of Chiriquí, Herrera, Panama East, and Panama West. In addition to these new sub-committees, it adopted two new technical procedures to guide the safety and prevention of hazardous work that pertain to car wash and grocery store workers. (8) These technical procedures cover a number of different aspects of the job such as storing equipment and packing and transporting goods. (35) |
The government has established policies related to child labor (Table 9). However, policy gaps exist that hinder efforts to address child labor, including a lack of implementation.
| Policy | Description & Activities |
|---|---|
| Direct Government Action Program for the Prevention and Eradication of Child Labor | Provides a network of social and economic services to child workers and children at risk of child labor, including food and scholarships, support for sports activities, and social monitoring. (10,12) Led by MITRADEL and implemented through the Institute for Training and Utilization of Human Resources. (10) Replaced the Roadmap Towards the Elimination of Child Labor (2016–2019) in 2020. (4) In 2022, MITRADEL's child labor division registered 800 students nationally in the Direct Government Action Program for the 2023 school year. (8) |
| National Action Plan for the Prevention and Elimination of Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children and Adolescents | Seeks to prevent and eliminate the commercial sexual exploitation of children and adolescents, including by providing services to survivors, strengthening the National Commission for the Prevention of Crimes of Sexual Exploitation (CONAPREDES), and raising awareness. Implemented by CONAPREDES, with support from the Public Ministry. (10,41,44) Research was unable to determine whether activities were taken to implement this strategy during the reporting period. |
| National Plan Against Trafficking in Persons (2012–2022) | Addresses human trafficking through prevention, victim assistance, and international cooperation. Includes provisions to protect child victims of human trafficking. (10,39,45) During the reporting period, the Government of Panama, through the Trafficking in Persons Commission, finished a new 5-year National Action Plan Against Trafficking in Persons (2022-2027), soon to be published. (18,46) The new plan includes lines of action such as developing new strategic alliances between government agencies to conduct joint labor inspections, building the first temporary shelter for the exclusive care of human trafficking survivors, and implementing new training strategies for the Public Prosecutor's Office and the Judiciary. (46) The plan is currently under the review of the Ministry of Security's legal office before obtaining presidential approval. (38) |
In 2022, the government funded and participated in programs that include the goal of eliminating or preventing child labor (Table 10). However, gaps exist in these social programs, including their ability to reach the most vulnerable populations.
| Program | Description & Activities |
|---|---|
| SENNIAF Programs† | Provides services to children engaged in the worst forms of child labor. (8,11) The Prevention and Eradication of Child Labor program identifies children engaged in the worst forms of child labor, removes them from exploitative situations, and connects them to a network of social and economic services offered by the government. Maintains a case processing system to efficiently manage reports and help reduce report processing times. (11) The Prevention and Care for Child and Adolescent Victims of Sexual Violence program identifies children engaged in commercial sexual exploitation, removes them from exploitative situations, and provides them with social services. Conducts training workshops nationwide for professionals providing direct care to child and adolescent survivors of sexual violence. (47) SENNIAF continued its existing social programs in rural and urban areas, as well as maintaining a network of government services to address the needs of children and offering guidance to parents during the reporting period. (8) |
| Network of Opportunities† | Ministry of Social Development (MIDES) program that provides families in extreme poverty with cash transfers that are conditioned on their children's participation in health and education services and the acquisition of a birth certificate. Offers training to project participants to improve income-generating opportunities. (8,10) MIDES continued the Network of Opportunities program without significant changes during the reporting period. (8) |
| El Plan Colmena† | Seeks to reduce poverty and inequality via a multisectoral strategy that includes local governments, public institutions, the private sector, civil society, and community leaders to promote development and address vulnerability. (8) Through these actors, the plan prioritizes 12 areas of intervention including comprehensive childhood care, improved nutrition, access to clean water and basic sanitation, health, education, and the development of productive capacities to ensure the sustainability of communities. (42) The program is also responsible for the creation of the "Child Labor Free Districts" strategy, in which MITRADEL engages with local municipal governments to identify cases of child labor. (8) During the reporting period, the government held several meetings to discuss progress in expanding the plan into the provinces of Panama Oeste, Panamá, Los Santos, Veraguas and Colón. (48) |
For information about USDOL’s projects to address child labor around the world, visit https://www.dol.gov/agencies/ilab/ilab-project-page-search
† Program is funded by the Government of Panama.
During the reporting period, MITRADEL, in conjunction with the National Council of Private Enterprise (CONEP) launched the new initiative called Let's Stop Child Labor (Dejemos en Cero al Trabajo Infantil). The new initiative creates a network of private sector companies with the aim of eradicating child labor. (49) This network provides a training plan, a space to share international and national experiences, project coordination support with other companies, and coordination of MITRADEL's joint program for the employability of adolescents of legal working age. The project is supported by the Responsible Business Conduct in Latin America and the Caribbean, funded by the European Union, and executed by the ILO. (49) MITRADEL has also continued its work with NGO Casa Esperanza to provide care for 250 children and adolescents. (8)
Although the Government of Panama has expanded programs that reach children in rural areas and from indigenous and Afro-Panamanian communities, reports indicate that the scope of these programs is insufficient. (8) Despite policy efforts, the National Anti-Trafficking Commission acknowledges that funding and availability of services for human trafficking survivors remain insufficient to address the full scope of the problem. Furthermore, although survivors of child trafficking are able to receive services from local NGOs, Panama lacks programs to specifically address the needs of this population. (50) Government officials have also noted that despite funds dedicated to the prevention of crimes against children, Panama lacks a specific mechanism to direct funds toward child sexual abuse survivors. (51,52)
In the past, there were widespread allegations of abuse against children in SENNIAF facilities, specifically shelters, which were later verified through an independent investigation. Child trafficking survivors in Panama are referred by the government to SENNIAF to receive services, including shelter, which are administered by NGOs and religious organizations. (17) Yet children in these facilities are vulnerable to recruitment by human traffickers. Reports also indicate that SENNIAF’s budget is insufficient to support restructuring or other largescale efforts needed to reduce children’s risk of suffering abuse in these facilities, which heightens their vulnerability to exploitation. (17)
Based on the reporting above, suggested actions are identified that would advance the elimination of child labor in Panama (Table 11).
| Area | Suggested Action | Year(s) Suggested |
|---|---|---|
| Legal Framework | Ensure that the law protects children from hazardous work by establishing a minimum age of 18 for all children or by ensuring that children receive adequate training in the type of work being done and that the health, safety, and morals of children are protected in accordance with international standards if children aged 16 or 17 are allowed to perform hazardous work. | 2013 – 2022 |
| Establish regulations that define the types of activities that children ages 12 to 14 can undertake as light work. | 2009 – 2022 | |
| Raise the minimum age for work from 14 to 15 to align with the compulsory education age. | 2019 – 2022 | |
| Enforcement | Allocate sufficient funding for resources such as telephones, laptops, and vehicles so that the labor inspectorate can meet its commitments for coordination, implementation, and monitoring related to child labor. | 2014 – 2022 |
| Further increase the number of inspectors in the labor inspectorate to ensure adequate coverage of the labor force of approximately 1.9 million people. | 2022 | |
| Collect and make available information on the number of investigations, violations found, prosecutions initiated, convictions obtained, and penalties imposed and collected related to the worst forms of child labor. | 2018 – 2022 | |
| Ensure that judges are sufficiently trained on laws related to forced labor, the worst forms of child labor, and human trafficking to ensure that these crimes can be effectively prosecuted. | 2021 – 2022 | |
| Ensure the number of inspections conducted by labor inspectors is appropriate to ensure the quality and scope of inspections. | 2022 | |
| Government Policies | Take steps to implement key policies related to child labor and publish information about these efforts on an annual basis. | 2020 – 2022 |
| Social Programs | Enhance efforts to eliminate barriers and make education accessible for all children, including children from rural areas and indigenous and Afro-Panamanian communities, by expanding existing programs to cover transportation and infrastructure for children with disabilities. | 2014 – 2022 |
| Establish programs and ensure sufficient funding to address the needs of human trafficking survivors, including programs that provide services to child survivors of human trafficking and sexual abuse. | 2018 – 2022 |
- UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Gross intake ratio to the last grade of primary education, both sexes (%). Accessed March 3, 2023. For more information, please see "Children's Work and Education Statistics: Sources and Definitions" in the Reference Materials section of this report.
http://data.uis.unesco.org/. - ILO. Analysis of Child Economic Activity and School Attendance Statistics from National Household or Child Labor Surveys. Original data from Encuesta de Trabajo Infantil (ETI), 2016. Analysis received March 2023. Please see "Children's Work and Education Statistics: Sources and Definitions" in the Reference Materials section of this report.
- U.S. Embassy- Panama City. Reporting. March 1, 2018.
- U.S. Embassy- Panama City. Reporting. January 22, 2021.
- U.S. Embassy- Panama City. Reporting. January 21, 2022 (B).
- Vásquez, José. Captan Ocho Menores Laborando en Fincas Agrícolas en Chiriquí Durante 2021. Crítica, May 4, 2021.
https://www.critica.com.pa/provincias/captan-ocho-menores-laborando-en-fincas-agricolas-en-chiriqui-durante-2021-603472 - Ávila, Luis. Unos 23 Mil Niños en Panamá Están en Situación de Trabajo Infantil. Panamá América, June 11, 2022.
https://www.panamaamerica.com.pa/sociedad/unos-23-mil-ninos-en-panama-estan-en-situacion-de-trabajo-infantil-1208029 - U.S. Embassy- Panama City. Reporting. January 12, 2023.
- República de Panamá-Contraloría General de la República- Instituto Nacional de Estadísticas y Censo. Comentarios de la Encuesta de Trabajo Infantil (ETI) 2016. 2017.
https://www.contraloria.gob.pa/INEC/archivos/P8031Comentarios.pdf - U.S. Embassy- Panama City. Reporting. January 21, 2022 (A).
- U.S. Embassy- Panama City. Reporting. February 11, 2019.
- U.S. Embassy- Panama City. Reporting. January 16, 2020.
- Periodico Digital Centroamericano y del Caribe. Panamá, a la Puerta del Surgimiento de Dos Formas de Trabajo Infantil ‘Invisible’. June 12, 2022.
https://newsinamerica.com/pdcc/boletin/2022/panama-a-la-puerta-del-surgimiento-de-dos-formas-de-trabajo-infantil-invisible/ - Madrid, Mayra. Detectan Menor de Edad Laborando en el Vertedero de Puerto Armuelles en Barú. Panamá América, June 18, 2021.
https://www.panamaamerica.com.pa/provincias/detectan-menor-de-edad-laborando-en-el-vertedero-de-puerto-armuelles-en-baru-1189229 - Batista, Linda. Trabajo Infantil en Panamá Aumenta Tras Casi Ser Erradicado. Telemetro, June 11, 2021.
https://www.telemetro.com/nacionales/trabajo-infantil-panama-aumenta-casi-ser-erradicado-n5236673 - U.S. Department of State. Trafficking in Persons Report- 2020: Panama. Washington, D.C., June 25, 2020.
https://www.state.gov/reports/2020-trafficking-in-persons-report/panama/ - U.S. Department of State. Trafficking in Persons Report- 2021: Panama. Washington, D.C., July 1, 2021.
https://www.state.gov/reports/2021-trafficking-in-persons-report/panama/ - US Embassy - Panama City. Reporting. February 2, 2023.
- UN Human Rights Council. Compilation on Panama- Report of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. February 27, 2020. Source on file.
- U.S. Department of State. Country Reports on Human Rights Practices- 2020: Panama. Washington, D.C., March 30, 2021.
https://www.state.gov/reports/2020-country-reports-on-human-rights-practices/panama/ - Government of Panama. Constitución Política de la República de Panamá con reformas hasta 2004. Enacted: 1972.
http://pdba.georgetown.edu/Constitutions/Panama/constitucion2004.pdf - Government of Panama. Código de la Familia, Ley No. 3. Enacted: 1994. Source on file.
- Government of Panama. Código de Trabajo, No. 44. Enacted: August 12, 1995.
http://www.ilo.org/dyn/natlex/docs/WEBTEXT/42679/67564/S95PAN01.htm - Government of Panama. Decreto Ejecutivo No. 1, amending Decreto Ejecutivo Número 19 of 2006, No. 27944-C. Enacted: January 5, 2016. Source on file.
- Government of Panama. Código Penal de la República de Panamá (with modifications until 2015). Enacted: May 18, 2007.
https://ministeriopublico.gob.pa/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/codigo-penal-2016.pdf - Government of Panama. Decreto Ejecutivo Número 19 Que Aprueba la Lista del Trabajo Infantil Peligroso, en el Marco de las Peores Formas del Trabajo Infantil, No. 25569. Enacted: June 12, 2006.
http://www.ilo.org/dyn/natlex/docs/ELECTRONIC/73943/75839/F1949153997/PAN73943.pdf - Government of Panama. Ley Número 79 Sobre Trata de Personas y Actividades Conexas. Enacted: November 9, 2011. Source on file.
- Government of Panama. Ley Orgánica de Educación. Enacted: September 24, 1946.
https://docs.panama.justia.com/federales/leyes/47-de-1946-oct-2-1946.pdf - Government of Panama. Ley 34 Por la Cual se Deroga, Modifican, Adicionan y Subrogan Artículos de la Ley 47 de 1946. Enacted: July 6, 1995.
http://docs.panama.justia.com/federales/leyes/34-de-1995-jul-11-1995.pdf - ILO. NORMLEX. Panama. C129 - Labour Inspection (Agriculture) Convention, 1969 (No. 129). March 22, 2022
https://www.ilo.org/dyn/normlex/en/f?p=1000:12100:0::NO:12100:P12100_INSTRUMENT_ID:312274 - Government of Panama. Ley 285, Que crea el Sistema de Garantías y Protección Integral de los Derechos de la Niñez y la Adolescencia y dicta otras disposiciones. February 15, 2022. Source on File.
- Government of Panama. Decreto DM57-2010- Por La Cual Se Crea Dentro De La Estructura Orgánica Del Ministerio De Trabajo Y Desarrollo Laboral La Dirección Nacional Contra El Trabajo Infantil Y Protección De La Persona Adolescente Trabajadora. Enacted: February 23, 2010.
https://www.gacetaoficial.gob.pa/pdfTemp/26481_C/GacetaNo_26481c_20100303.pdf - Government of Panama. Dirección Nacional Contra el Trabajo Infantil y Protección de la Persona Adolescente Trabajadora. Ministry of Labor and Labor Development, Accessed February 9, 2016. Source on file.
- Government of Panama. Servicio De Policía De Niñez Y Adolescencia Celebró Sus 25º Aniversario. June 11, 2019.
http://www.policia.gob.pa/17926-servicio-de-polica-de-niez-y-adolescencia-celebr-sus-aniversario.html?csrt=943721083495193960 - U.S. Embassy- Panama City official. E-mail communication to USDOL official. February 17, 2023.
- U.S. Embassy- Panama City official. E-mail communication to USDOL official. July 14, 2022.
- ILOSTAT. ILO Labor Force Statistics (LFS) – Population and labour force. Accessed January 31, 2023. Labor force data is government-reported data collected by the ILO. Please see "Labor Law Enforcement: Sources and Definitions" in the Reference Materials section of this report.
https://ilostat.ilo.org/data/ - U.S Embassy - Panama City official. E-mail communication to USDOL official. June 12, 2023.
- U.S. Embassy- Panama City official. E-mail communication to USDOL official. June 14, 2018.
- U.S. Embassy- Panama City. Reporting. January 28, 2022.
- Government of Panama. Plan Nacional De Erradicación Del Trabajo Infantil Y Protección De Las Personas Adolescentes Trabajadoras 2007–2011. Panama City: Comité para la Erradicación de Trabajo Infantil y la Protección del Trabajador Adolescente (CETIPPAT), June 2006.
http://www.contraloria.gob.pa/inec/aplicaciones/Cetippat/informes/planNal_2007-2011.pdf - U.S. Embassy- Panama City. E-mail communication to USDOL official. July 8, 2022.
- Government of Panama. Dirección Contra el Trabajo Infantil y Protección del Adolescente Trabajador (DIRETIPPAT). 2022.
https://cetippat.gob.pa/diretippat/ - Government of Panama. Plan Nacional para la Prevención y Eliminación de la Explotación Sexual Comercial de Niños, Niñas y Adolescentes, 2008–2010. Panamá: Comissión Nacional para la Prevención de los Delitos de Explotación Sexual (CONAPREDES), 2008.
http://www.ilo.org/ipec/Informationresources/WCMS_IPEC_PUB_9670/lang--es/index.htm - Government of Panama. Plan Nacional contra la Trata de Personas (2012–2017). 2012.
https://www.ilo.org/dyn/natlex/docs/ELECTRONIC/90928/105157/F-1007537726/PAN90928.pdf - Government of Panama. Matriz De Intervención Del Plan Nacional Contra La Trata De Personas De La República De Panamá 2022-2027. 2022. Source on File.
- Secretaría Nacional de Niñez, Adolescencia y Familia. Violencia Sexual: Prevención y Atención a Niñas, Niños y Adolescentes Víctimas de Violencia Sexual. Government of Panama, Accessed May 30, 2019.
https://senniaf.gob.pa/?page_id=24&csrt=3821564853945781758 - Government of Panama. Comisión Multisectorial Ampliada del Gabinete Social realiza su II reunión ordinaria. October 14, 2022.
https://www.gabinetesocial.gob.pa/comision-multisectorial-ampliada-del-gabinete-social-realiza-su-ii-reunion-ordinaria/ - Rojas, Keila. Panamá, a la puerta del surgimiento de dos formas de trabajo infantil 'invisible' La Estrella de Panama. November 6, 2022.
https://www.laestrella.com.pa/cafe-estrella/cultura/220611/panama-puerta-surgimiento-dos-formas - U.S. Embassy- Panama City. Reporting. March 1, 2019.
- Rodriguez, Olmedo. Crece el Número de Menores Abusados en Panama. La Prensa, March 31, 2018.
https://impresa.prensa.com/panorama/Crece-numero-menores-abusados_0_4996750354.html - Rodriguez, Olmedo. Abuso Sexual a Menores, en Aumento. La Prensa, November 4, 2018.
https://impresa.prensa.com/panorama/Abuso-sexual-menores-aumento_0_5160233979.html
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