Belize launches new Decent Work Country Programme

Tripartite partners in Belize have signed a new Decent Work Country Programme (DWCP) and inaugurated a landmark initiative that will strengthen Rights and Governance; Inclusive Labour Markets; Productivity; as well as Enterprise and Rural Development. 

As the second DWCP for Belize, the Programme will be implemented from 2024 to 2029 and integrates Social Dialogue and Gender Equality and Inclusion to promote holistic socio-economic development. 

The new initiative was launched during a ceremony on 11 July 2024 in Belize City that brought together several high-level representatives who expressed their joint commitment to enhancing the lives of all Belizeans through decent work, social justice, inclusive growth and sustainable development. 

Those in attendance included the Honourable John Briceño, Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Economic Development, Investment, Civil Aviation and Immigration; the Honourable Oscar Requena, Minister of Rural Transformation, Community Development, Labour and Local Government; the Honourable Ramiro Ramirez, Minister of State in the Ministry of Rural, Transformation, Community Development, Labour and Local Government; Rissela Dominguez-Patt, Labour Commissioner of Belize; Amado Chan, Deputy Chairperson of the Belize Labour Advisory Board; Luis Luke Martinez, President of the National Trade Union Congress of Belize (NTUCB); Kim Aikman, Chief Executive Officer of the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI); Katherine Meighan, President of the BCCI; and Dr Joni Musabayana, Director of the ILO Decent Work Team and Office for the Caribbean. 

Just ahead of the event, the Cabinet of Belize approved the DWCP confirming its full support and giving it a solid foundation from which to launch.

“Aligned with Plan Belize, the DWCP focuses on bolstering our labour market and fostering economic opportunities. It plays a crucial role in achieving our economic growth and poverty reduction objectives outlined in Belize’s Medium Term Development Strategy,” announced Prime Minister Briceño during his keynote address. 

“There has been significant work in the background preparing for this day. And today, we see the launch. As the Minister responsible for labour, I want to assure everyone present here of our unwavering commitment to ensure that this is not only going to be a mere policy document but is going to be part and parcel of our wider national development plan for this country, emphasized the Honourable Oscar Requena, Minister of Rural Transformation, Community Development, Labour and Local Government. 

“Through this Programme, we aim to address key challenges such as unemployment, underemployment, informal work, gender inequality and inadequate social protection. By working together with our partners in government, the private sector, trade unions, and civil society, we can create a more conducive environment for decent work and sustainable development to thrive,” highlighted Dr Joni Musabayana, Director of the ILO Decent Work Team and Office for the Caribbean.

Over the past year, the ILO Caribbean Decent Work Team, in collaboration with consulting firm Ergon Associates, worked closely with the Ministry of Rural, Transformation, Community Development, Labour and Local Government, BCCI and NTUCB to develop a Programme tailored to the needs of policymakers, workers and employers in tandem with their national development framework as well as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) – particularly SDG8, Decent Work and Economic Growth. 

“The ILO team certainly gave us some great insight and a tremendous roadmap to where we need to reach and how we’ll get there,” said NTUCB President Luke Luis Martinez of the collaborative DWCP development process. “Today, we mark a significant milestone in our journey towards decent work for all. The launching of this Decent Work Country Programme is a testament to our collective commitment to build a better future for our country.”

“Through these collaborative efforts, we can address multifaceted challenges facing our labour market and create a more equitable and thriving economy for all. This second iteration of the Decent Work Country Programme for Belize is particularly noteworthy. This time around, we have a more comprehensive preparation process, ensuring that our strategies and actions are well informed and targeted,” explained BCCI Chief Executive Officer Kim Aikman. 

Leading up to the launch, the tripartite constituents participated in a three-day training led by the ILO Caribbean team to develop their skills in results-based management (RBM) for successful implementation and evaluation of the DWCP. 

Throughout the Programme's implementation, the ILO will continue to provide technical support to the Ministry of Rural Transformation, Community Development, Labour and Local Government; the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the National Trade Union Congress of Belize. 

The DWCP reaffirms Belize’s commitment to improving the quality of life and creating an enabling environment for economic prosperity. The tripartite partners will actively engage in its implementation to maximize its positive impact on the policymakers, workers and employers. 

For more information about the ILO’s work in Belize, visit our website.