New national child labour policy launched in Belize with support from ILO and UNICEF

The Government of Belize launched its new National Child Labour Policy covering the years 2022-2025. The Policy is the result of a research and consultative process which started in September 2021 under the lead of the ILO and with support of UNICEF. Under the aegis of the National Child Labour Committee and the guidance of the Ministry of Rural Transformation, Community Development, Labour and Local Government, national stakeholders discussed and agreed on a programmatic document providing the country with a new and much needed framework for dedicated action to combat child labour. The previous National Child Labour Policy dated from 2009.

The new policy document includes a consistent set of interventions and associated responsibilities and timeframe for implementation instrumental to the eradication of child labour. It neatly fits within the national endeavours aimed at the achievement of Target 8.7 of the Sustainable Development Goals. National stakeholders agreed to concentrate on four key areas including addressing existing legislative and information gaps, increasing compliance with existing (or new) labour laws, reducing barriers for access to school/apprenticeship/internships and bolstering the support and economic resilience for children and their families.

In his speech during the launching ceremony, Mr. Valentino Shal, Chief Executive Officer, Ministry of Rural Transformation, Community Development, Labour and Local Government, said “The launch of this national child labour policy is a milestone achievement. […] We are now able to demonstrate to the Belizean people and to our international partners our position on child labour and a clear road map as to how we are going to tackle this issue.”

Mr. Dennis Zulu, Director, ILO Decent Work Team and Office for the Caribbean in his address pointed out that the policy document "has in it, the various contributions received from the different parties in Belize as well as those who participated from outside from UNICEF and the ILO. It is important therefore to say that this is a national policy, owned and developed by national stakeholders with the technical and financial assistance of ILO and UNICEF."

Mr. Zulu reminded all social partners that the ILO "remains committed to working with you all to ensure that this policy is indeed implemented".

(In photo: Hon. Oscar Requena, Minister of Rural Transformation, Community Development, Labour and Local Government signs the new Belize National Child Labour Policy and Strategy 2022-2025 with Mr. Andy Westby, Chairman, Belize Sugar Cane Farmers’ Association).