By the WBWTN News Team | April 23, 2025
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(WBWTN) - Belize’s public sector unions are calling on the government to take immediate action on long-standing wage concerns, formally requesting an 8.5% salary adjustment to counteract the rising cost of living and worsening economic disparity.
The Joint Union Negotiations Team (JUNT)—representing the Public Service Union of Belize (PSU), the Belize National Teachers' Union (BNTU), and the Association of Public Service Senior Managers (APSSM)—delivered a formal request to Prime Minister John Briceño, emphasizing the urgent need to address the economic pressures affecting frontline public servants.
Frustration has mounted over the government's recent decision to enhance benefits for Chief Executive Officers (CEOs), while teachers and public officers continue to grapple with stagnant wages. The unions described the move as a “grave injustice,” especially after enduring years of salary cuts and frozen increments during past economic crises.
“The burden on public officers has become unbearable,” the letter stated, noting that inflation has steadily eroded workers’ purchasing power. The unions proposed a phased implementation of the 8.5% salary increase and extended their request to include pensioners and a minimum wage increase from $5.00 to $6.00.
JUNT also criticized the government’s lack of engagement with the CERT Framework submitted in November 2024. The continued silence, the unions argued, undermines the principles of good-faith negotiation and international labor standards. A deadline of May 1, 2025, has been set for a formal government response.
The letter was signed by PSU President Bro. Dean Flowers, BNTU President Sis. Nadir-Caliz, and APSSM President Sis. Sharon Fraser, with copies sent to Deputy Prime Minister Cordel Hyde, Minister of Education Oscar Requeña, and other key officials.
As public officers and teachers await a response, the ball is now in the government’s court to address what unions say is a critical moment for wage justice and respect for public service.
