PM Briceno Says Union Demands Amount to $63 Million

Following the ceremonial opening of Parliament in Belmopan on Monday, Prime Minister John Briceño addressed growing pressure from unions demanding an 8.5% salary increase. The Prime Minister acknowledged the unions’ right to demand better wages but cautioned that meeting their requests would significantly impact the national budget.

Briceño revealed that preliminary figures from the Ministry of Finance estimate the proposed salary increase would add approximately $63 million to the government’s already substantial wage bill.

“I think it is their right to make those demands and ask of the government,” said Briceño. “It is our responsibility to meet with them and see what we could afford. If we can afford that, we will give it to them. If we can give them more, we will gladly give it to them.”

However, he said there is a need for fiscal responsibility. “The pie is one size. It is not bigger and it is growing slowly, but the demands are growing even larger. The wage bill is over seven hundred million dollars,” the Prime Minister stated.

Briceño warned that recklessly increasing the wage bill could force the government to slash critical social programs. “It gives us time to think that if we do that recklessly, then we may have to cut social programs or other things we want to do. So it is a balancing act from our end,” he explained.

He said the government will continue to engage with union leaders in hopes of reaching a compromise. “We sit down and try to talk to them to find a common ground that can meet some of their objectives, but at the same time for us to be a responsible government.”