On Friday, the government went to the House Of Representatives and rushed through legislation to amend the labour laws. The amendment is designed to make stevedores work shifts longer than 15 hours when they are clearing a vessel.
Well - even though it is special interest legislation to suit the CWU's stevedores, the National Trade Union Congress of Belize wrote to the Prime Minister - who is also the Minister of Labour - to complain thatchy they have not been consulted.
The NTUCB says it was not consulted in either a virtual meeting or in a letter. They tell the Prime Minister, quote, "zero consultation with one of the major stakeholders in the Tripartite social arrangement in which we have been operating for years now, is a slap to the face of all the workers in Belize. This move from the government is not only a clear sign that workers' issues are not being taken seriously given this pandemic, but also places all the unions in a defensive posture, since our membership base are now asking what we are going to do about it."
The letter to the Prime Minister adds, "Looking at the contents of the amendments, being hurried through the house, we cannot identify one thing that would be beneficial to any worker but can readily identify where their rights under our existing Labour Laws are being eroded, in favour of employers."
They are asking for an urgent meeting with the Prime Minister.
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