72 S T A T. ]
PUBLIC LAW
8 5 - 6 5 0 - J U L Y 25,
1958
405
Public Law 85-550 AN ACT To implement item 1 of a Memorandum of Understandings attached to the treaty of January 25, 1955, entered into by the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the Republic of Panama with respect to wage and employment practices of the Government of the United States of America in the Canal Zone. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives United States of America in Congress assembled,
of the
FINDINGS
1. (a) The Congress of the United States of America hereby finds that the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the Republic of Panama on January 25, 1955, entered into a treaty (known as the Treaty of Mutual Understanding and Cooperation), to which was attached a Memorandum of Understandings Reached (otherwise referred to as the Memorandum of Understandings), signed by such governments on such date. (b) The Congress further finds that, under such Memorandum of Understandings, the Government of the United States assumed certain obligations set forth in item 1 of such Memorandum as follows: " 1. Legislation will be sought which will authorize each agency of the United States Government in the Canal Zone to conform its existing wage practices in the Zone to the following principles: " (a) The basic wage for any given grade level will be the same for any employee eligible for appointment to the position without regard to whether he is a citizen of the United States or of the Republic of Panama. "(b) I n the case of an employee who is a citizen of the United States, there may be added to the base pay an increment representing an overseas differential plus an allowance for those elements, such as taxes, which operate to reduce the disposable income of such an employee as compared with an employee who is a resident of the area. "(c) The employee who is a citizen of the United States will also be eligible for greater annual leave benefits and travel allowances because of the necessity for periodic vacations in the United States for recuperation purposes and to maintain contact with the employee's liome environment. "Legislation will be sought to make the Civil Service Retirement Act uniformly applicable to citizens of the United States and the Republic of Panama employed by the Government of the United States in the Canal Zone. "The United States w411 afford equality of opportunity to citizens of Panama for employment in all United States Government positions in the Canal Zone for which they are qualified and in which the employment of United States citizens is not required, in the judgment of the United States, for security reasons. "The agencies of the United States Government will evaluate, classify, and title all positions in the Canal Zone without regard to the nationality of the incumbent or proposed incumbent. "Citizens of Panama will be afforded opportunity to participate in such training programs as may be conducted for employees by the United States agencies in the Canal Zone." (c) The Congress further finds that the enactment of legislation containing a statement of general policies and principles and other provisions in implementation of item 1 of such Memorandum of Understandings is necessary to the faithful and proper discharge of the
July 25. 1958 ^' ^^^°^
United States Panama. W a g e and employment practices.
SECTION
joStat. 743
5 USC seq.
2251 et
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