AN ACT to amend the Representation of the People Act Chapter 9 of the Substantive Laws of Belize, Revised Edition 2020; to create a framework for the regulation of the campaign financing; to provide for the establishment of a National Campaign Fund; to require electoral candidates to declare campaign contributions and expenditure; and to provide for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto. CLICK HERE for draft document.
BCCI Announcement: Minimum Wage Task Force Review and Acceptance of Situational Analysis Report, Enforcement, and Formula
The Minimum Wage Task Force met on December 13, 2022, to review and accept the revised Situational Analysis Report and Enforcement Framework dated December 12, 2022, as presented by PPF Capital Belize Limited. The decisions made by the Task Force Members can be found here.
SUMMARY OF BCCI’S POSITION ON TRADE LICENSING REFORM
The Trade License Reform process dates back roughly eight years when private sector members complained about conspicuously arbitrary increases in their Trade License “fees.” Since then, there have been multiple consultancies and recommendations, with 2017 seeing the advent of a Trade Licensing (Amendment) Bill that made it to its first reading at the National Assembly. This, however, was stalled on account of local authorities’ concern about the loss in trade license revenues. The present iteration of the reform saw the government promulgating a methodology that is based on business-sector classifications and preset cost per square feet that are set according to zones and business classification. The new regime also aims at expanding the reach of the system into rural areas. When scored in terms of international “best practice,” the net change moves the regime from 1.18 to 1.164 (out of 5), with the BCCI’s recommendation for automatic approval for certain business types being the chief contributor to the slight positive increase in the performance. See HERE for Full Document.
BCCI RE: MINIMUM WAGE ADJUSTMENT
The Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) has always supported the increase in the legislated minimum rate. This is appropriate and consistent with our responsibility as the International Labour Organization (ILO)’s Employers’ Organization that is committed to promoting Decent Work. At the same time, we have adopted the ILO’s Balanced-and Evidenced Based Approach. This approach demands that both sides’ (workers’ and employers’) needs and circumstances be considered. It is on this basis the BCCI has advised a more gradual increase while underscoring that the government should be augmenting its provision of social protection services. See document HERE.
MEASURING CURRICULA MISMATCH 2019
The Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI), in recognizing the importance of human capital to the overall business environment and the larger macroeconomy, had, in partnership with the International Labour Organization (ILO), conducted two Curricula Mismatch studies. Conducted by the BCCI’s Governance and Trade Division, the 2017 installment looked at the agriculture and ICT sectors, while the 2019 report analyzed the food processing and tourism sectors. See full study HERE.
Measuring Curricula Mismatch (2017)
The Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI), in recognizing the importance of human capital to the overall business environment and the larger macroeconomy, had, in partnership with the International Labour Organization (ILO), conducted two Curricula Mismatch studies. Conducted by the BCCI’s Governance and Trade Division, the 2017 installment looked at the agriculture and ICT sectors, while the 2019 report analyzed the food processing and tourism sectors. See full study HERE.
POLICY BRIEF REGARDING UNPLANNED HOLIDAY
The Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI)’s policy brief on the need to address unplanned public and bank holidays, as the abrupt holidays carry a significant payroll cost for companies that would operate on said holidays. Click Here for Policy Brief.
