Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2011, published 101st ILC session (2012)

Minimum Wage-Fixing Machinery Convention, 1928 (No. 26) - Belize (Ratification: 1983)

Article 3(2) of the Convention. Minimum wage fixing machinery. Tripartite consultations. The Committee notes with interest the Government’s recent decisions to introduce one minimum wage for all workers, to be regularly adjusted in order to keep up with the rising cost of living. It notes, in particular, the adoption of the Wages Councils (Wages Regulation) (Amendment) Order, 2010 (Statutory Instrument No. 79 of 2010) and the Wages Regulations (Manual Workers) (Amendment) Order, 2010 (Statutory Instrument No. 80 of 2010), which set the hourly minimum wage rate at 3.10 Belize Dollars (BZD) (approximately US$1.58) for all adult workers in all industries, and at BZD3 (approximately US$1.53) for students. The Committee notes that these Orders were adopted following the recommendations of a tripartite Minimum Wage Task Force, whose final report was submitted in January 2010. The Task Force after having conducted surveys and having gathered data, presented its main findings and recommended: (i) the introduction of one minimum wage for all categories of adult workers and a lower minimum wage rate for students; (ii) the establishment of a minimum living wage index taking into account the variations of inflation on a bi-annual basis; and (iii) the ratification of the Minimum Wage Fixing Convention, 1970 (No. 131). The Committee understands that the Government pursues the implementation of the recommendations of the Task Force. The Committee requests the Government to keep the Office informed of any progress made with regard to: (i) the development of a Minimum Living Wage Index and a formula for the calculation of the minimum wage; (ii) the effective application of the national minimum wage to the agricultural and export-oriented sectors, and (iii) the ratification of ILO Convention No. 131. It also requests the Government to indicate the reasons for establishing a differentiated minimum wage rate for students and how it is ensured in these circumstances that the principle of equal remuneration for work of equal value is fully observed.

Article 5 and Part V of the report form. Application in practice. The Committee notes the statistical information provided by the Government on the evolution of the minimum wage rates between 1981 and 2009 and the number of complaints filed in the period 2007–10 concerning non compliance with the statutory minimum wage. The Committee requests the Government to continue providing up-to-date information concerning the manner in which the Convention is applied in practice.