Prime Minister Briceno Highlights Low Unemployment Rate and Minimum Wage Increase

Briceno also spoke on unemployment, reminding the audience that under the previous government, there was an unemployment rate of thirty percent. Since the change of leadership, Belize’s unemployment rate now stands below five percent. He shared how proud he is of the work his government has been doing over such a short amount of time. His main point was the increase of the minimum wage rate which now currently stands at a rate of five dollars. 

Hon. John Briceño, Prime Minister of Belize: “We came in with no money and so we had to realize that hold on we have to be very prudent in what we do and how we’re going to turn around the country, the economy to create jobs. As I always tell everyone, my colleagues in Cabinet, when we talk about social program I said the best social program is putting people to work. And that’s what we’re doing. The unemployment rate in Belize right now is under 5%. That has never happened in the history of this country. The BPO’s for instance, we’ve been working very closely with the BPO’s and there’s a story that just came out in the magazine that they’re saying that Belize is the number one place to set up a BPO. That did not happen by chance, that happened because of the work that we’re doing.”