It makes applying for employment permits a lot more convenient by removing the hassle of figuring out how to pay. The Ministry of Rural transformation launched its online payment system today, one that the minister told us works seamlessly and was developed by Belizean technicians. Here are the highlights from the opening ceremony this morning.
Florencio Marin, Minister of Rural Transformation & Labor
"Actually I think it is quite a game changer for this ministry, a lot of work has been put in as you can see from the presentation from the labor commissioner this is something ongoing over the years I mean digitizing and moving to full digital processes in out labor department the next step will now be partnering with the other ministries to be able to fully have an digitized concept an online concept so that workers can now move much more faster and more efficiently."
"Firstly it is much more convenient and as I am moving around the country now getting to meet the employers I think you are aware that because of the loan employment, employers are struggling to get people to work in the industry in particular in my district in the north in my area, the sugar industry in the south as well you know they are struggling to get workers and this is but one step to be able to make the process much more easier and much more friendly for the workers."
Valentino Shal, CEO, Ministry of Labor
"So normally in the past when you pay for government services you pay at a cashier like a real life person or some alternative is you go to the treasury department to do that payment to the cashier. And we feel that it is inconvenient and very inefficient especially for those large industries that depend on migrant labor and when they want to pay for their work permits if you can imagine if you have a company in trio, the nearest treasure department or treasury office is in Dangriga or PG. so you have to leave your work and your farm to go and make those payments and then come back to the labor department to continue to do your application and so we are removing that completely so there is no need to move about and so the digitization of these payments using convenient payment options, debit card, credit card, e-kyash is very convenient and v very helpful to those people who would have to travel long distances to make those payments and so it is a way of easing the way of doing business for us in the country and to make sure that the government revenues are properly collected and accounted for because there are really no errors when it comes to digitized payments especially when you are accounting or reconciling those numbers in the treasury department."
