Belize Engages ILO to Strengthen Labour Market and Worker Protections

The Ministry of Immigration, Governance and Labour has begun formal engagement with the International Labour Organization (ILO) as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen Belize’s labour market framework. The engagement follows the recent restructuring of the Ministry and was marked by a virtual meeting between Minister of Immigration, Kareem Musa, Chief Executive Officer Tanya Santos, and Director of the ILO Caribbean Office, Joni Musabayana, along with senior officials from both organizations.  During the discussions, Minister Musa outlined plans for the implementation of Belize’s Decent Work Country Programme, describing it as a strategic roadmap to guide labour market development, policy coordination, and institutional strengthening.  Talks also focused on existing and future technical support from the ILO, including collaboration through the European Union-funded PROSPER Project. Areas identified for cooperation include labour law reform, occupational safety and health, local economic development, labour market statistics, skills development, social protection, and child labour prevention.  The Ministry reaffirmed its commitment to working closely with the ILO to enhance labour governance and promote decent work opportunities across Belize.  Officials say the engagement reflects a renewed focus on modernizing labour systems and improving protections for workers, while supporting sustainable economic growth.