Cabinet Endorses Labour and School Nutrition Reforms, Advances Regional Integration

More news out of this week’s Cabinet meeting shows the approval of a new program to boost Labour Force Participation and Employability, with a specific focus on women and youth. The initiative will provide specialized support and increase skills training in priority sectors to better equip institutions like ITVET to meet labour market demands.  Additionally, the Minister of Labour received approval to submit three new International Labour Organization (ILO) Conventions to the National Assembly for legislative approval. These conventions address critical issues, including violence and harassment in the workplace; safe and healthy working environments; protection against biological hazards.  To further modernize the country’s labour framework, Cabinet also approved a comprehensive, phased review of the Labour Act.  Cabinet also approved the enactment of the Belize School Food and Nutrition Policy. This policy will serve as a national framework to ensure all students have access to nutritious food in schools and to regulate school environments to promote healthy habits. The policy will also strengthen the National Healthy Start Feeding Program, which currently provides meals to over 15,000 students.  Finally, Cabinet also reported Belize’s participation in its first meeting as a member of the Council of Ministers of Finance of Central America, Panama, and the Dominican Republic (COSEFIN). The meeting, held in Antigua, Guatemala, reportedly marked a new phase of regional cooperation. Belize, which joined the organization in January, will work with its counterparts to enhance fiscal policy coordination, reduce trade barriers, and support regional integration in trade, transport, and energy.