NTUCB: Landmark CCJ Ruling Strengthens Worker Protections

The National Trade Union Congress of Belize is hailing a major victory for workers after a landmark ruling from the Caribbean Court of Justice. The CCJ has confirmed that severance pay is a legal right, separate from any pension benefits, handing a win to ten former Belize Telemedia employees. The decision overturns an earlier appeals ruling and sends a clear warning to employers that pension plans cannot replace severance unless the law allows it. NTUCB President Ella Waight says the judgement strengthens worker protections and sets a powerful precedent for employees nationwide.

 

Ella Waight, President, National trade Union Congress of Belize

“We are happy for that. We are elated. We were we find that to be ground-breaking in this country because. Other unions were facing that very same issue, whether it be in the past, that it was brought up to them. And I’d have to mention, because I come from the Social Security Board Union and that was once brought up to us but we made a stop to it then and there. Severance is very different from what I, and we pay a contributory pension at Social Security Board and very, at that very moment, we tell them, no, we got legal advice. And they squashed it right then and there. So for us, we did not have to go down that road, but our brothers and sisters that other entities went down that road. And this clarifies it so greatly that it’s two separate things. And I hope that other entities will learn from this and don’t try to track down that road because the same thing would happen.”