Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2005, published 95th ILC session (2006)

Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining Convention, 1949 (No. 98) - Belize (Ratification: 1983)

The Committee notes that the Government’s report has not been received. It must, therefore, repeat its previous observation which read as follows:

Articles 3 and 4 of the Convention. In its previous comments, the Committee had recalled that, under the provisions of section 27(2) of the Trade Unions and Employers’ Organizations (Registration, Recognition and Status) Act, Chapter 304, a trade union could be certified as a bargaining agent if it received 51 per cent of the votes and that problems might arise from such an absolute majority requirement, since where this percentage was not attained, the majority union would be denied the possibility of bargaining. The Committee once again requests the Government to report on any measures taken or contemplated to amend the legislation so as to ensure that when no union covers more than 50 per cent of the workers, collective bargaining rights are granted to all the unions in this unit, at least on behalf of their own members.

The Committee is addressing a direct request to the Government on another point.

The Committee hopes that the Government will make every effort to take the necessary action in the very near future.