Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2021, published 110th ILC session (2022)

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

The Committee notes with deep concern that the Government’s report has not been received. It is therefore bound to repeat its previous comments. The Committee informs the Government that, if it has not supplied replies to the points raised by 1 September 2022, then it may proceed with the examination of the application of the Convention on the basis of the information at its disposal at its next session.

Repetition

The Committee had noted the observations of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) in 2014. The Committee notes with regret that the Government has not yet replied to these observations and requests it once again to provide its comments in this respect.

Articles 1 and 3 of the Convention. Protection against acts of anti-union discrimination. In its previous comments, following the 2011 ITUC observations regarding those two sectors, the Committee had requested the Government to provide statistics on the number of acts of anti-union discrimination that are reported to the authorities in the banana plantation sector and in export processing zones and on the outcomes of the denunciations in this respect. The Committee notes that the Government indicates that during the reporting period (July 2013 to June 2017) no acts of anti-union discrimination were denounced to the authorities in these sectors. Highlighting that the absence of anti-union discrimination complaints may be due to reasons other than an absence of anti-union discrimination acts, and recalling the specific allegations raised by the ITUC, the Committee requests the Government to take the necessary measures to ensure that, on the one hand the competent authorities take fully into account in their control and prevention activities the issue of anti-union discrimination, and that on the other hand, the workers in the country are fully informed of their rights regarding this issue. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on measures taken in this regard, as well as any statistics concerning the anti-union discrimination acts reported to the authorities.

Article 4. Promotion of collective bargaining. In its previous comments, the Committee had requested the Government to take measures to amend section 27(2) of the Trade Unions and Employers’ Organizations (Registration, Recognition and Status) Act (TUEOA), which provides that a trade union may be certified as the bargaining agent if it is supported by at least 51 per cent of employees, as this requirement of an absolute majority may give rise to problems given that, if this percentage is not attained, the majority union would be denied the possibility of bargaining. In its latest comment, the Committee noted the Government’s indication that: (i) the Tripartite Body and the Labour Advisory Board had engaged in discussions on a possible amendment to the Act; and (ii) based on these consultations, it had been recommended to reduce to 20 per cent the trade union membership threshold required to trigger a poll, while retaining the requirement of a 51 per cent approval of those employees voting and to require a turnout at the poll of at least 40 per cent of the bargaining unit. The Committee notes that the Government indicates that section 27(2) of the TUEOA has not been amended but that discussion continues among the social partners in this regard. The Committee requests the Government to continue promoting social dialogue in order to bring section 27(2) of the TUEOA into conformity with the Convention and to provide information on any developments in this respect. The Committee reminds the Government that it may avail itself of technical assistance from the Office.

Promotion of collective bargaining in practice. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the number of collective agreements concluded and in force, the sectors concerned and the number of workers covered by these agreements.

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