Should Belize’s BPO Sector Be Unionised?

The National Trade Union Congress of Belize (NTUCB) is taking steps to unionise the country’s growing Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) sector, with a focus on protecting young workers, according to Ashley Longford, Director of the Young Vanguard.

Speaking with News 5, Longford said that unionisation is a key priority for the NTUCB. “One of the goals for the National Trade Union Congress of Belize is to unionise the BPO sector,” she said. “Employees working in BPOs often feel disconnected and, in some cases, feel like there’s no one to fight for their rights.”

“And they feel that BPO sector is some sort of like a modern-day slavery.”

Longford stressed that the BPO workforce in Belize is largely made up of young people, typically between the ages of 18 and 30, many of whom enter the sector straight out of high school or sixth form. “We don’t want the BPO sector to take advantage of them. Having the Young Vanguard there helps employees understand their labour rights and the laws that protect them,” she added.

Unionisation, she said, provides workers with a collective voice and a support system that can hold employers accountable. “Employees would no longer have to be afraid of losing their jobs or facing unfair treatment. A union can fight for their rights and help create a workplace that is comfortable and fair,” Longford explained.

Plans are underway for meetings and networking sessions with BPO directors in early January or February, where union leaders hope to engage directly with sector stakeholders and further discussions on the benefits of union representation.

“This is a win-win situation,” Longford said. “It benefits the employees by giving them protection and support, and it benefits employers by fostering a more accountable and engaged workforce.”