Rural Workers' Organisations Convention, 1975 (No. 141) - Belize (Ratification: 1999)

Replies received to the issues raised in a direct request which do not give rise to further comments (CEACR) - adopted 2018, published 108th ILC session (2019)

The Committee notes the information provided by the Government, which answers the points raised in its previous direct request, and has no further matters to raise in this regard.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2017, published 107th ILC session (2018)

The Committee notes with regret that the Government’s report has not been received. It hopes that the next report will contain full information on the matters raised in its previous comments initially made in 2011. The Committee also notes that the Government had been requested to provide information to the Committee on the Application of Standards at the 106th Session of the International Labour Conference for failure to supply reports and information on the application of ratified Conventions.

Repetition

Article 5. Policy of active encouragement of rural workers’ organizations. In its previous comments, the Committee had requested the Government to provide information on steps taken or contemplated to adopt a policy of active encouragement of rural workers’ organizations so that these organizations may play a role in the economic and social development of the country. The Committee notes that the Government indicates in its report that: (i) Labour Officers are already aware that when conducting inspections and labour education, that they can speak to the unionization of workers, including rural workers, as a means of improving work conditions and as a result, life conditions; and (ii) National Labour Consultations took place in each District in Belize in 2009 and all workers and employers were free to partake in the discussion forums and voice their concerns. Noting this information, the Committee requests the Government to indicate in its next report if any new measures or policies to actively encourage the participation of rural workers’ organizations in the economic and social development of the country have been adopted.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2016, published 106th ILC session (2017)

The Committee notes that the Government’s report has not been received. It hopes that the next report will contain full information on the matters raised in its previous comments.

Repetition

The Committee notes the comments submitted by the National Trade Union Congress of Belize (NTUCB) on 12 November 2011 on issues raised by the Committee.

Article 5. Policy of active encouragement of rural workers’ organizations. In its previous comments, the Committee had requested the Government to provide information on steps taken or contemplated to adopt a policy of active encouragement of rural workers’ organizations so that these organizations may play a role in the economic and social development of the country. The Committee notes that the Government indicates in its report that: (i) Labour Officers are already aware that when conducting inspections and labour education, that they can speak to the unionization of workers, including rural workers, as a means of improving work conditions and as a result, life conditions; and (ii) National Labour Consultations took place in each District in Belize in 2009 and all workers and employers were free to partake in the discussion forums and voice their concerns. Noting this information, the Committee requests the Government to indicate in its next report if any new measures or policies to actively encourage the participation of rural workers’ organizations in the economic and social development of the country have been adopted.

Article 6. Measures to promote understanding of the need to further the development of rural workers’ organizations. In its previous comments, the Committee had requested the Government to take measures to promote the understanding of the need to further the development of rural workers’ organization, for example in the framework of the presentations organized by the Tripartite Secretariat and Labour Officers. The Committee notes that the Government indicates in its report that: (i) the Tripartite Body is undertaking development of Labour Education Material that is to be distributed by the Ministry of Labour technical Labour Staff when conducting inspections/investigations; and (ii) the Tripartite Body will also have a slot to make presentations of their work and on the Trade Union Act and Trade Unions and Employers Organizations (Registration, Recognition, and Status) Act, at the next round of national consultations that the Ministry of Labour will be undertaking shortly, and mention will be made of rural workers. The Committee notes this information.

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

The Committee notes the comments submitted by the National Trade Union Congress of Belize (NTUCB) on 12 November 2011 on issues raised by the Committee.

Article 5. Policy of active encouragement of rural workers’ organizations. In its previous comments, the Committee had requested the Government to provide information on steps taken or contemplated to adopt a policy of active encouragement of rural workers’ organizations so that these organizations may play a role in the economic and social development of the country. The Committee notes that the Government indicates in its report that: (i) Labour Officers are already aware that when conducting inspections and labour education, that they can speak to the unionization of workers, including rural workers, as a means of improving work conditions and as a result, life conditions; and (ii) National Labour Consultations took place in each District in Belize in 2009 and all workers and employers were free to partake in the discussion forums and voice their concerns. Noting this information, the Committee requests the Government to indicate in its next report if any new measures or policies to actively encourage the participation of rural workers’ organizations in the economic and social development of the country have been adopted.

Article 6. Measures to promote understanding of the need to further the development of rural workers’ organizations. In its previous comments, the Committee had requested the Government to take measures to promote the understanding of the need to further the development of rural workers’ organization, for example in the framework of the presentations organized by the Tripartite Secretariat and Labour Officers. The Committee notes that the Government indicates in its report that: (i) the Tripartite Body is undertaking development of Labour Education Material that is to be distributed by the Ministry of Labour technical Labour Staff when conducting inspections/investigations; and (ii) the Tripartite Body will also have a slot to make presentations of their work and on the Trade Union Act and Trade Unions and Employers Organizations (Registration, Recognition, and Status) Act, at the next round of national consultations that the Ministry of Labour will be undertaking shortly, and mention will be made of rural workers. The Committee notes this information.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2008, published 98th ILC session (2009)

Article 4 of the Convention. Policy to facilitate the establishment and growth of rural workers’ organizations. In its previous comments, the Committee requested the Government to provide information on the total number of workers engaged in agriculture, and to indicate any measures aimed at facilitating, as an objective of national policy, the establishment and growth on a voluntary basis of rural workers’ organizations in all three agricultural sectors, in accordance with Article 4 of the Convention. The Committee notes that, in its report, the Government indicates that the Labour Force Survey conducted in 2006 showed that there are approximately 19,139 workers employed in the agricultural sector (5,114 in citrus, 2,130 in bananas, 8,988 in forestry, among others). The Government further indicates that rural workers are entitled to the benefits provided for in the Trades Union Act and the Trade Unions and Employers’ Organizations Act. The Committee requests the Government to indicate the rate of unionization of those workers and the number of existing rural working organizations in the whole rural sector.

Finally, noting that rural workers’ trade unions can be certified as representative if they are supported by the absolute majority of employees in a bargaining unit, the Committee requests the Government to indicate the effects of recognition as most representative trade union.

Article 5. Policy of active encouragement of rural workers’ organizations. The Committee had requested the Government to provide information on steps taken or contemplated to adopt a policy of active encouragement of rural workers’ organizations so that these organizations may play a role in the economic and social development of the country. The Committee notes that the Government indicates that no policy has been adopted yet on this matter but that the Christian Workers Union and the Belize Workers Union that represent workers of the export processing zones are active members of the National Trade Union Congress of Belize, which have representation in committees such as the Tripartite Body and the National Council for Technical and Vocational Education and Training. The Committee stresses the importance of the adoption of such policies as a means to enable organizations of rural workers to play their role in economic and social development, especially considering the low rates of unionization of rural workers, even though agriculture appears as one of the largest economic activities in the country, and requests the Government to indicate any policy adopted in the future to actively encourage the participation rural workers’ organizations in the economic and social development of the country.

Article 6. Measures to promote understanding of the need to further the development of rural workers’ organizations. The Committee had requested the Government to indicate the steps taken or contemplated in order to promote the widest possible understanding of the need to further the development of rural workers’ organizations and of the contribution they can make to improving employment opportunities and general conditions of work and life in rural areas, as well as to increasing the national income and achieving a better distribution thereof. The Government indicates that the Tripartite Secretariat and Labour Officers have organized presentations, not focused on rural workers in particular, but on trade unions in general. The Committee requests the Government to take measures to promote the understanding of the need to further the development of rural workers’ organization, for example in the framework of the presentations organized by the Tripartite Secretariat and Labour Officers.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2007, published 97th ILC session (2008)

The Committee notes with regret that the Government’s report has not been received. It hopes that a report will be supplied for examination by the Committee at its next session and that it will contain full information on the matters raised in its previous direct request, which read as follows:

Article 4 of the Convention. Policy to facilitate the establishment and growth of rural workers’ organizations. The Committee observed that the principal organization of rural workers, the Christian Workers’ Union, represents approximately 200 workers in two companies engaged in the citrus industry, while the other two agricultural sectors, i.e. the banana and sugar sectors, have not been unionized. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the total number of workers engaged in agriculture, and to indicate any measures aimed at facilitating, as an objective of national policy, the establishment and growth on a voluntary basis of rural workers’ organizations in all three agricultural sectors, in accordance with Article 4 of the Convention.

Article 5. Policy of active encouragement of rural workers’ organizations.  The Committee requests the Government to provide information on steps taken or contemplated to adopt a policy of active encouragement of rural workers’ organizations so that these organizations may play a role in the economic and social development of the country.

Article 6. Measures to promote understanding of the need to further the development of rural workers’ organizations. The Committee requests the Government to indicate the steps taken or contemplated in order to promote the widest possible understanding of the need to further the development of rural workers’ organizations and of the contribution they can make to improving employment opportunities and general conditions of work and life in rural areas, as well as to increasing the national income and achieving a better distribution thereof.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2006, published 96th ILC session (2007)

The Committee notes that the Government’s report has not been received. It hopes that a report will be supplied for examination by the Committee at its next session and that it will contain full information on the matters raised in its previous direct request, which read as follows:

Article 4 of the Convention. Policy to facilitate the establishment and growth of rural workers’ organizations. The Committee observed that the principal organization of rural workers, the Christian Workers’ Union, represents approximately 200 workers in two companies engaged in the citrus industry, while the other two agricultural sectors, i.e. the banana and sugar sectors, have not been unionized. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the total number of workers engaged in agriculture, and to indicate any measures aimed at facilitating, as an objective of national policy, the establishment and growth on a voluntary basis of rural workers’ organizations in all three agricultural sectors, in accordance with Article 4 of the Convention.

Article 5. Policy of active encouragement of rural workers’ organizations.  The Committee requests the Government to provide information on steps taken or contemplated to adopt a policy of active encouragement of rural workers’ organizations so that these organizations may play a role in the economic and social development of the country.

Article 6. Measures to promote understanding of the need to further the development of rural workers’ organizations. The Committee requests the Government to indicate the steps taken or contemplated in order to promote the widest possible understanding of the need to further the development of rural workers’ organizations and of the contribution they can make to improving employment opportunities and general conditions of work and life in rural areas, as well as to increasing the national income and achieving a better distribution thereof.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2003, published 92nd ILC session (2004)

The Committee notes the Government’s first report with interest.

Article 4 of the Convention. Policy to facilitate the establishment and growth of rural workers’ organizations. The Committee observes that the principal organization of rural workers, the Christian Workers’ Union, represents approximately 200 workers in two companies engaged in the citrus industry, while the other two agricultural sectors, i.e. the banana and sugar sectors, have not been unionized. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the total number of workers engaged in agriculture, and to indicate any measures aimed at facilitating, as an objective of national policy, the establishment and growth on a voluntary basis of rural workers’ organizations in all three agricultural sectors, in accordance with Article 4 of the Convention.

Article 5. Policy of active encouragement of rural workers’ organizations. The Committee notes that the Government indicates that it has not adopted a policy of active encouragement of rural workers’ organizations. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on steps taken or contemplated to adopt a policy of active encouragement of rural workers’ organizations so that these organizations may play a role in the economic and social development of the country.

Article 6. Measures to promote understanding of the need to further the development of rural workers’ organizations. The Committee observes that, according to the Government’s report, no measures are envisaged to promote understanding of the need to further the development of rural workers’ organizations. The Committee requests the Government to indicate the steps taken or contemplated in order to promote the widest possible understanding of the need to further the development of rural workers’ organizations and of the contribution they can make to improving employment opportunities and general conditions of work and life in rural areas, as well as to increasing the national income and achieving a better distribution thereof.