CCJ Ruling on BTL Still Being Examined by Ministry of Labor

CEO in the Ministry of Labor, Valentino Shal, says that the ministry is still reviewing the ruling handed down by the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) on Wednesday. The CCJ concluded that Belize Telemedia Limited was to pay ten retired employees’ severance in compliance with Belize’s Labor Act. Following the ruling, Belizeans across the nation are wondering what this will mean for employees moving forward. Section 183 of Belize’s Labor Act states that employees who have continuously been working by an employer for five years before they are  terminated by the employer shall be paid a severance pay of one week’s wages in respect of each complete year of service; and those who have worked over ten years before termination employer for reasons, which do not amount to dismissal, shall be paid a severance pay of two weeks’ wages in respect of each complete year of service. We asked Shal if the CCJ’s interpretation of this clause will now broaden the scope of who qualifies for severance pay.

 

Valentino Shal, CEO, Ministry of Labour

“I’m not going to question the ruling of the CCJ. We will simply have to review it and then comply with it because it’s a precedent setting ruling, I believe.”

 

Britney Gordon

“What mechanisms can or will be put in place to ensure that employers clearly account for severance within pension schemes going forward?”

 

Valentino Shal

“Once it is clear to us the implications, it’ll be adopted by the labor department and be integrated into the work that we do. So anytime we provide labor advice industrial relations advice CBAs, we will ensure that this is included to ensure that the rights of workers are fully protected.”

 

Britney Gordon

“Is section one ninety of the Labor Act now effectively a shield against any contractual attempt to waive severance rights, even in union regulated agreements?”

 

Valentino Shal

“The CCJ’s ruling is a very significant ruling. It means that all subsequent and any agreement are subject to it, so it’ll have to stand above everything else. So the comprehensive review of our labor laws I know I think it was in August.”