Belize advances DWCP and National Employment Policy through tripartite oversight

BELMOPAN, Belize (ILO News) — A new Steering Committee responsible for overseeing implementation of Belize’s Decent Work Country Programme (DWCP) 2024–2029 and guiding the development of the country’s National Employment Policy (NEP) has begun its work.

Comprised of representatives of key government institutions, the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the National Trade Union Congress of Belize and the ILO, the Committee held its inaugural meeting on 20 August 2026. The Steering Committee gives Belize’s tripartite partners a formal mechanism that will oversee implementation of the DWCP and keep attention on agreed results. Its responsibilities include reviewing workplans and progress, monitoring outcomes and targets, identifying implementation challenges and recommending action where progress is off track. Members are also expected to support follow-up within their own institutions.

“The value of this Committee will ultimately not be measured by the number of meetings held or documents approved. It will be measured by whether the priorities agreed under the DWCP translate into tangible progress- including better opportunities for people across Belize to participate in productive and decent work,” said Thomas Kring, Deputy Director of the ILO Decent Work Team and Office for the Caribbean.

Advancing shared priorities

Belize’s second DWCP was signed by Government, employer and worker representatives in July 2024, and established agreement among the constituent to pursue three priorities for 2024–2029:

• rights and governance;
• inclusive labour markets; and
• productivity, sustainable enterprises and local economic development.

Social dialogue, gender equality and inclusion are cross-cutting areas of focus throughout the programme.

Work to deliver these priorities is already under way. In September 2025, the ILO supported Belize in reviewing and strengthening its Public Employment Services and active labour market policies, while also advancing early discussions on the NEP. Other DWCP-aligned work includes the EU-funded ILO PROSPER project, which is currently supporting local economic development, skills and entrepreneurship in southern Belize, with particular attention to rural and indigenous communities, women and young people.

Policy grounded in evidence and consultation

A key item on the agenda for the first meeting, the Committee examined the methodology and workplan for developing a Belize NEP. Development of the NEP is a specific commitment under the DWCP’s inclusive labour markets priority. It is intended to provide a single, coherent framework for aligning employment goals with economic, sectoral, skills and labour market policies.

This comes as Belize records strong economic growth and very low unemployment, while still facing challenges in labour force participation, skills matching and access to employment for some groups. The NEP will therefore look beyond headline unemployment figures to examine how more people can access productive and decent work and how employers can find the skills they need to grow.

“The National Employment Policy is an opportunity to bring Belize’s employment priorities into one coherent framework, grounded in evidence and shaped by the people and institutions that will have to deliver it. The process is therefore as important as the final policy – consultation, tripartite engagement and a clear implementation plan are what will help turn the NEP into practical action.” Abdelmalik Muhummed, Employment and Labour Market Policies Specialist, ILO Caribbean Office.

The Belize NEP inception report, developed with technical assistance of the ILO, sets out four phases for the development process: preparation; identification of labour market issues and policy formulation; wider consultation and validation; and finalization. The approach will combine analysis of labour market and economic data with inputs from consultations involving government agencies, employers’ and workers’ organizations, training institutions, development partners and other stakeholders.

The Department of Labour will lead national coordination and support access to information, stakeholders and consultations, while the Steering Committee will have the responsibility of reviewing evidence, shaping policy priorities, guiding consultations and providing iterative feedback. Participants agreed that a successful result will look like an adoption-ready NEP and a realistic implementation plan. The ILO Specialists participating in this first working meeting reiterated the ILO’s commitment to continue providing technical advice, labour market analysis, policy expertise and support for monitoring and results management.

“By bringing Government, employers, workers and key national institutions together, this Steering Committee gives us a practical mechanism to align efforts, monitor results and keep Belize’s labour market priorities connected to the country’s wider development goals.” Tanya Santos, Chief Executive Officer, Ministry of Immigration, Governance and Labour.

The establishment of the DWCP Committee is a practical expression of Belize’s tripartite partners’ ownership and ambition. and the ILO looks forward to close collaboration that ensures agreed priorities become measurable results for the country.