Chamber Says Minimum Wage Should be Phased In

This morning, the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry met with the media to discuss the new minimum wage regime that will come into effect at the beginning of the new year.  Notwithstanding the establishment of a minimum wage task force, as well as a consultancy to determine the best approach to introducing the scheduled change, the B.C.C.I. has come forward to share its concerns.  According to President Marcello Blake, the new five-dollar hourly wage should be introduced systematically.

Marcello Blake

Marcello Blake, President, B.C.C.I.

“It must be done in a phased manner, it has to be done gradually, over time and also for there to be triggers.  So there’s a formula that we’re recommending [that] should be looked at.  It doesn’t necessarily have to be used, but at least it’s a guiding note for the government to then put these triggers in so that we’re not in this position where ten years have passed since the last increase.  The chamber supports the increase, we are just saying that it has to be gradual so that our members can adjust to the economic strains that they definitely will be faced with.”

Reporter

“I think we also need to hammer home as well that this was the position of an entire working group as compared to not only the chamber’s position.”

Marcello Blake

“Yeah, you need all the players at the table to be able to have the varying views.  At the end of the day, the chamber is there to represent its members and the business community, and we are supportive of the change, we just need to make sure that our members are well represented in that discussion. The politicians, as usual, continue to do what Dyon [Elliott[ refers to as speech-framing which is [that] they get out there and they say what they want to say and then the public takes it as fact when in fact there is a process.  Why go out there and make certain pronouncements when you have a task force that is assigned.  Let the process go through to the end before the politicians get out there and speak.  I think that’s what they need to take a look at.  Obviously, for political reasons, it works for them, but at the end of the day it then deters those who may want to participate in the process to say, “Hey, if you’re saying it’s so, then it’s so and there’s no way we can change your mind.”  But, in fact, for us, we need to continue to advocate for our members and we continue to be at the table so that our voices can be heard.”