Cabinet this week: Labour law update concerning child labour

Published by BBN Staff at April 29, 2021

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Posted: Thursday, April 29, 2021. 8:27 am CST.

By Aaron Humes: At this week’s session of Cabinet in Belize City, it gave approval to Minister of Labour Oscar Requeña to develop and execute a National Child Labour Policy, to replace one first established in 2009.

Belize generally prohibits child labour, but it persists in some industries, particularly the sugar industry, as well as among certain families.

Minister Requeña has also signalled plans to introduce amendments to the Labour Act, Chapter 279 of the Laws of Belize and for the ratification of the International Labour Organization (ILO) Convention in relation to labour administration and to present outstanding annual reports to the International Labour Office, which is in fulfilment of ILO Convention to which Belize is a signatory.

In other economic news, Cabinet welcomed the second half of the report from the Economic Recovery Advisory Committee and agreed to set up a number of ministerial subcommittees to review the recommendations of the advisory committee with a view to fast-track implementation of the recommendations.

This committee was established shortly after general elections and is intended to present plans to drive a rebirth of the economy during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Cabinet was also updated on the presentation of the Government’s position to the Joint Unions on April 22 by Minister of the Public Service, Constitutional and Political Reform Henry Charles Usher; on the progress of vaccination against COVID-19, with 40 thousand having received their first doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, which is in line with Government’s plan to ensure that 70% of Belizeans who wish to be vaccinated are vaccinated by September; approved further amendments to Statutory Instrument No. 43 of 2021, which are expected to further relax COVID-19 related regulations in regard to sports and dining.

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