Government Open to Dialogue Amid PSU Threats of Strike

The Government of Belize says it remains open to dialogue with the Public Service Union (PSU) and employees of the Belize Tax Service (BTS) amid reports that workers may stage strike action over the department’s transition into a new statutory authority known as the Statutory Authority for Revenue Administration (SARA).

Minister of Public Service, Henry Usher, explained that while no formal notice of strike action has been received, the government is prepared to listen to employees’ concerns.

“I think that if that is the case, and we haven’t gotten any notice. But certainly we want to make sure that we listen to the views coming from the employees, from the Belize Tax Service,” the minister said.

He added that the transition to SARA is part of a broader, long-term reform effort within the public sector, not a sudden move.

“You have to remember that this is not a project that came on stream overnight. This is something, a part of the package of reforms for the Belize Tax Service that has been ongoing for the last couple of years,” he noted.

The minister also stressed that employees will have the option to continue working in other areas of the public service if they do not wish to move under the new authority.

“We remain open for dialogue with the PSU, with the public officers, to make sure that these issues are resolved,” he concluded.