ILO participates in the Belize Child Labour Sensitization Training Session for Frontline Workers
This event was imparted by the Child Development Foundation Attorney at Law and Legal Consultant and Facilitator, Ms. Diana Shaw, who sensitized and educated participants responsible for monitoring and reporting on child laws.
17 March 2023
Hon. Oscar Requena, Minister of Rural Transformation, Community Development, Labour, and Local Government, Belize, officially opened The Child Labour Sensitization Training Session for frontline workers on 16 March 2023 at the Biltmore Plaza & Hotel in Belize City.
“The Ministry of Rural Transformation, Community Development, Labour and Local Government is delighted to announce that this Administration launched in July 2022, the Belize National Child Labour Policy and Strategy for 2022 to 2025. The policy was funded by the ILO and UNICEF. … the policy is comprehensive, practical, and has achievable goals involving various ministries and agencies. It is a policy that is against of all different forms of child labour. The Ministry of Rural Transformation, Community Development, Labour and Local Government has made tremendous efforts to eliminate child labour by adopting legislations such as Conventions 138, which refers to the Minimum Age of Employment and Convention 182 which speaks on the Worst Forms of Child Labour. …the adoption of those Conventions is a testament that we are advocating for our children’s safety and rights. Furthermore, we have committed to strengthening the working relationship with our social partners such as the Immigration Department, the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Human Development, Police Department, Anti Trafficking in Persons and the Social Security Board.” stated by the Hon. Oscar Requena.
This event was imparted by the Child Development Foundation Attorney at Law and Legal Consultant and Facilitator, Ms. Diana Shaw, who sensitized and educated participants responsible for monitoring and reporting on child laws. These participants were representatives of the Ministry of Labour, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Human Development, Immigration Department, Belize Social Security Board, Belize Tourism Board, Belize Police Department, Belize Agriculture Health Authority, Toledo Institute for Development and Environment, Belize Tourism Industry Association, Anti-Trafficking in Persons Unit, Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry, National Trade Union Congress of Belize, and the International Labour Organization.
This targeted training is in line with and is a part of the follow-up actions discussed in January 2023, as the ILO continues to support the Ministry to advance implementation of the Belize National Child Labour Policy and Strategy 2022-2025, launched 18 July 2022, when the Director of the ILO Decent Work Team and Office for the Caribbean, Mr. Dennis Zulu, participated. The ILO’s lead coordinator is Ms. Resel Melville, supported by the ILO’s National Project Officer in Belize, Mrs. Pamela Ann Bradley, who are maintaining a continuous flow of communication with the Belize Labour Commissioner, Mrs. Rissela Dominguez-Patt, Belize Deputy Labour Commissioner, Mrs. Claire Lamb, and Belize Senior Labour Officer responsible for the Northern Region and Child Labour Secretariat and Inspectorate Desk, Mrs. Aida Reyes.
Mrs. Aida Reyes closed the training session saying, “I would like to end this ceremony by encouraging frontline workers to raise awareness among stakeholders by saying no to child labour and together let’s end child labour.”
“The Ministry of Rural Transformation, Community Development, Labour and Local Government is delighted to announce that this Administration launched in July 2022, the Belize National Child Labour Policy and Strategy for 2022 to 2025. The policy was funded by the ILO and UNICEF. … the policy is comprehensive, practical, and has achievable goals involving various ministries and agencies. It is a policy that is against of all different forms of child labour. The Ministry of Rural Transformation, Community Development, Labour and Local Government has made tremendous efforts to eliminate child labour by adopting legislations such as Conventions 138, which refers to the Minimum Age of Employment and Convention 182 which speaks on the Worst Forms of Child Labour. …the adoption of those Conventions is a testament that we are advocating for our children’s safety and rights. Furthermore, we have committed to strengthening the working relationship with our social partners such as the Immigration Department, the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Human Development, Police Department, Anti Trafficking in Persons and the Social Security Board.” stated by the Hon. Oscar Requena.
This event was imparted by the Child Development Foundation Attorney at Law and Legal Consultant and Facilitator, Ms. Diana Shaw, who sensitized and educated participants responsible for monitoring and reporting on child laws. These participants were representatives of the Ministry of Labour, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Human Development, Immigration Department, Belize Social Security Board, Belize Tourism Board, Belize Police Department, Belize Agriculture Health Authority, Toledo Institute for Development and Environment, Belize Tourism Industry Association, Anti-Trafficking in Persons Unit, Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry, National Trade Union Congress of Belize, and the International Labour Organization.
This targeted training is in line with and is a part of the follow-up actions discussed in January 2023, as the ILO continues to support the Ministry to advance implementation of the Belize National Child Labour Policy and Strategy 2022-2025, launched 18 July 2022, when the Director of the ILO Decent Work Team and Office for the Caribbean, Mr. Dennis Zulu, participated. The ILO’s lead coordinator is Ms. Resel Melville, supported by the ILO’s National Project Officer in Belize, Mrs. Pamela Ann Bradley, who are maintaining a continuous flow of communication with the Belize Labour Commissioner, Mrs. Rissela Dominguez-Patt, Belize Deputy Labour Commissioner, Mrs. Claire Lamb, and Belize Senior Labour Officer responsible for the Northern Region and Child Labour Secretariat and Inspectorate Desk, Mrs. Aida Reyes.
Mrs. Aida Reyes closed the training session saying, “I would like to end this ceremony by encouraging frontline workers to raise awareness among stakeholders by saying no to child labour and together let’s end child labour.”