NTUCB Leads Charge to Protect Vulnerable Workers

The National Trade Union Congress of Belize is ramping up efforts to organize domestic workers, giving a voice to some of the country’s most vulnerable employees. Backed by the International Labour Organization, the initiative aims to push for stronger protections, better benefits, and a seat at the table as new labor laws take shape. NTUCB President Ella Waight says the push is about more than recognition; it’s about ensuring domestic workers are included in upcoming Occupational Safety and Health legislation and no longer left behind.

 

Ella Waight, President, National Trade Union Congress of Belize

“Along with ILO we have been trying to get expert- persons with expertise in domestic workers how to organize. And not necessarily organize to become unionized now, but organize to have them as a group of persons that have concerns and that where being the congress, we represent all workers, whether, again, whether or not they’re unionized or not. Where we can lobby, advocate with the Ministry of Labor and of course and the government on a whole to ensure that our domestic workers’ rights are protected and also to ensure that they have benefits that such as vacation time, vacation pay, that they are being paid at least the minimum wage. In the OSH Bill, we have a situation where domestic workers are not covered under OSH. One of the concerns that was brought up by the government is that, again, because they work in private households, how can an inspector just go to somebody’s household and say, “I want to see the conditions this domestic worker is working under”? But our concern is that is already happening on a Social Security Board scheme.” 

Logistical Blunder Cuts Short Union’s Time with PM Briceno

 

The NTUCB’s latest meeting with Prime Minister John Briceño got off to a shaky start. Union leaders showed up in Belmopan for the scheduled nine a.m. meeting, only to be told it had moved to Belize City. After a rushed trip, the meeting started late and wrapped up early, with the PM leaving before one. Despite the frustration and limited time, both sides still managed to agree on key priorities. Here’s NTUCB President Ella Waight on what came out of that meeting.

 

Ella Waight, President, National Trade Union Congress of Belize

“What came out of this meeting was the conversation that we had already begun in December of last year. Whistleblowers bill. Of course, that is a very important bill to us as a National Trade Union Congress of Belize because we always advocate for good governance and also to the public because we want to ensure that the limited resources we have in this country is spent wisely.  So what came out of the conversation was the Prime Minister indicated that by the end of July this year, the bill should be taken to the cabinet. Campaign finance legislation came up. This one, of course is – I don’t see a beginning yet for this one. But the Prime Minister indicated that there is a draft campaign finance legislation, a draft document. And again, we have asked for a copy of that to be submitted to the NTUCB by the end of June. Redistricting again. The promise was made when we went to a meeting in December that by the end of 2026, there should be a completion of this process. One of the major concerns that was brought up by the Prime Minister and his team was the fact of that the law speaks of at least having 31 seats, no less. There can be more but no less. We also spoke about UNCAC implementation. There hasn’t been any recent meetings. We have a representative on what was the discussion on UNCAC. That has been paused from, for at least a year and a half.”

 

Prime Minister Briceño has agreed to meet with the National Trade Union Congress of Belize again in December for an update on the issues discussed.

 

Attention readers: This online newscast is a direct transcript of our evening television broadcast. When speakers use Kriol, we have carefully rendered their words using a standard spelling system.

 

Watch the full newscast here: