PSU Slams Briceño Administration Over Salary Increases Amid ‘Worker Struggles’

The Public Service Union of Belize (PSU) has issued a scathing condemnation of the Briceño Administration, accusing it of “shameless self-enrichment” while public officers continue to face stagnant wages and economic hardship.

In a strongly worded release likening the administration to the corrupt leadership in George Orwell’s Animal Farm, the PSU blasted recent salary hikes for top government officials.

As we have reported, the pay adjustments, outlined in a government memo dated March 28, were approved with retroactive effect from March 13—just days after the 2025 general election.

Under the new terms, Cabinet Secretary Stuart Leslie’s annual salary increases to $96,000, while Chief Executive Officers will now earn $88,000—an increase of 15.7% from their previous salary of $76,000.

“These grotesque displays of self-interest come while public officers are still waiting for the reinstatement of three withheld increments, equivalent to a 7.5% salary adjustment,” the union stated. It also noted that roughly 40% of public servants earn under $20,000 a year and are struggling to survive on what it describes as poverty wages.

The PSU criticised the Financial Secretary and CEO Caucus for enabling what it called a “culture of exploitation” and questioned whether CEOs seeking private-sector-level pay should remain in public service. “The people of Belize deserve leaders who serve them, not predators who exploit them,” the union declared.

The PSU warned that these top-level salary adjustments could trigger a domino effect, potentially increasing ministers’ salaries to match the new $96,000 base. “If these CEOs desire private-sector-level compensation for their largely ceremonial roles, they should exit the public sector and “prove their worth” in the corporate world.”

The union is calling for immediate action from the Briceño Administration to address long-standing concerns affecting public officers. Among its key demands is a 7.5% salary adjustment to account for three withheld increments. The PSU is also requesting an increase in transfer grants from $1,200 to $1,500, in line with the provisions of the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), along with retroactive payments to officers who have been underpaid since 2021. Additionally, the union is urging the government to respond promptly to the Joint Unions’ CBA framework to advance stalled negotiations. The PSU has given the administration a 21-day deadline to issue a written commitment to fulfill these demands.

The PSU also reminded its members that “you don’t get what you deserve, you get what you negotiate,” and urged all public officers to remain united. The union warned that if the administration fails to act, it will have no choice but to mobilise for collective industrial action.

“Enough is enough,” the release concluded. It says the government “must cease its parasitic enrichment and honour its obligations to the people who sustain this nation.”