ILO Criticizes Belize’s Absence at International Labour Conference

While the ILO had much praise for the government’s efforts to improve the labor sector, the organization did call out the ministry for being a no-show at the International Labour Conference last month. The event was held in Switzerland from June 3 to 14 and saw participation from 187 countries across the globe. However, despite being aware months before, Belize was not present at the meeting. Today, ILO’s Director of its Caribbean Office Dr. Joni Musabayana expressed his disappointment in the country’s absence and highlighted the disparities women face in Belize’s workforce.

Dr. Joini Musabayana, Director, ILO Work Team and Offie for the Caribbean: “The male participation rate in this country is 70%. The female participation rate is 44%. These are figures from your national institution and I just want you to take a deep breath and take this in. 70% versus 44%. This tells us that the plight of women in the labor market in Belize is less than favorable. This program, we hope, will assist you to address this issue. And the underlying foundational cause of this disparity has to do with the care economy. The world over, the World Parliament of the Labor Market was held in Geneva in June, the International Labor Conference. Honourable Minister, I have to say, I was disheartened that you and your delegation could not make it. In a country where male participation rate is 70%, female participation rate is 44%, the world is meeting to discuss how can we bridge this gender gap and you couldn’t be there. I hope you will find through the implementation of this program the recommendations that came from other countries on how to address a reality that is very much your own reality.”

Why was the Minister of Labor and his Belize delegation absent at the event? Well, the labor unions alleged he was too busy with the PUP’s Toledo East convention held on June 9. But he denies the claim and says it wasn’t his call.

Oscar Requena, Minister of Labour, Local Government and Community Development: “On the contrary, our participation at the International Labour Conference, the Ministry of Labour representatives have absolutely nothing to do with campaigning. But rather, it was a decision made by Cabinet, by the Prime Minister that it was more prudent in the context of the fires and all the challenges that our people were facing on the ground in the Toledo district that whatever resources would have been allocated to attend the conference in Geneva, that those resources would be apportioned to support the people in the Toledo district. It was a tough decision because equally so we understand the importance of Belize participating. And essentially, I can say to you we have the commitment from the Prime Minister and from Cabinet to ensure that, you know, next year our ministry is fully represented at the International Labour Conference in Geneva.”

Members of the ILO Governing Body for the 2024-27 term of office were elected at the conference.