A scathing report from the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions condemns labor practices in Belize.
The report criticizes the lack of compliance with eight international conventions known as the core labor standards. Specifically, the report finds that the right to unionize is "regularly violated in Belize" particularly in the export processing zones and banana farms. The report also notes that the list of essential services in Belize is too broad taking away the right to strike from many workers. The report also notes that child labor is prevalent, citing a statistic which shows that one in ten Belizean children between 5 and 17 years old are working. And this isn't just a press release; the report has been tabled at the World Trade Organization for meetings being held this week.
Read the Full Report yourself at International Confederation of Free Trade Unions' Website.