Belize’s teachers are turning up the pressure, calling for an 8.5% salary adjustment to help offset the rising cost of living. But government officials are signaling that change won’t come overnight. Minister of Labor Florencio Marin Jr. addressed the issue this week, acknowledging the educators’ demands and affirming that their voices have been heard. However, he made it clear that this isn’t a decision that can be made with the stroke of a pen. Marin emphasized that the matter is now in the hands of the negotiating teams, representatives from both the government and the unions, tasked with finding common ground. While the teachers remain firm in their call for fair compensation, the road to resolution appears to be a process of dialogue and deliberation.
Florencio Marin Jr., Minister of Labour
“I think you’ve heard the Prime Minister saying that he’s nominated a team that gonna actively engage with them for discussions to see how they could come to a solution to this process. So, I think we just have to wait out how that consultation would work with the teachers and with the team from Cabinet to bring about a solution to that. I don’t want to jump ahead of that consultation process. So let’s find out what results that will lead to and then from there our ministry would participate where necessary.”
As negotiations continue, the nation watches closely. Will the government meet the teachers halfway, or will this become another drawn-out standoff?