The Ministry of Labor is cracking down on child labor following a recent incident in the south where it was revealed that immigrant children were working in citrus fields.
That has put Belize in hot water with the US and in response the Ministry today launched its new National Child and Labor Policy and Strategy for the years 2022 to 2025.
According to the Ministry, child labor is complex issue that requires strong partnership, social dialogue, and collaboration. And at the launch today, key stakeholders explained that revising the new policy will ensure that all ambiguities in the labor act will be removed and a stiffer penalty will be implemented.
And today the Commissioner of Police said that this will make it easier for the police to investigate these types of crimes, since it has proven difficult for the department in the past.
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
"It is extremely difficult because of the situations that normally surrounds these incidents. People have found ways to make it seem as if it is not child labor when in fact it is childlabor. if you put lipstick on a pig, it's still a pig. And that's why I'm so grateful for the policy because the policy will now guide investigators, guide the different agencies, so we know what to look for and how to address whatever situation that may confront us so I maintain it's a very good thing for Belize, it's a very good thing for our children, and like the minister said, it will allow our children to reach a maximum potential by way of education as the case may be so we're happy to have it."
Oscar Requena, Minister of Labor
"Certainly within the agriculture industry, I think that is where it is more common, particularly in the south. I am happy to see that the Sugar Cane Farmers Association from Orange Walk did sign the MOU today committing to know engage children in labor in their organization so as the Minister Ramiro said, it would be good to see other associations do the same and not only the other sugar can associations but other departments or other agrilctultural departments across the country do the same to ensure that our children are not used as a form of child labor."
And as we mentioned earlier, this new policy was triggered by a bust that occurred back in March of this year, where 39 immigrants - including 12 minors - were discovered on a Maya King bus, and then 8 more minors were found working on Maya King Farm in south Stann Creek. They'd been picking oranges and being paid $1.50 per sack.
Today, we asked the minister about that case, and also learnt that the agriculture sector has the highest incidence of child labor.
Oscar Requena, Minister of Labor
"We are fully aware of that situation, that matter came to Cabinet and certainly we take that very seriously. We have a duty by virtue of our commitment to international conventions that protect the rights of children to ensure that our children are safe, that they go to school, that they're afforded good health opportunities and that they are not deprived of their ability to be children. So certainly we will continue to investigate this, the government is very serious working with departments such as the police, certainly the labor department, the immigration department to ensure that we stomp down on these situations when they arise."
"What I can say to you is that we do have certain industries that require migrant labor and a lot of times we have migrants who come, bring their children, and because of their situation, in their country, they take every opportunity to be able to ensure that they can earn as much as they can, sometimes to the detriment of the children, sadly, and that matter has to be addressed."
