How Does the I.M.F See Lifting the Increment Freeze?

Chris Coye

Over the years, the I.M.F. report has flagged Belize’s burdensome wage bill. In the past years, the I.M.F. has consistently recommended reducing the public sector wage bill, i.e., retrenchment. The Briceño administration decided to undertake its own cost-saving measures, which included, among other measures – the freezing of increments. So we asked Minister Coye if the I.M.F had any views on the unions’ demand to lift the current increment freeze that public officers are still enduring.

Chris Coye, Minister of State, Finance

“They haven’t, as far as I recall or am aware, I don’t know that they have commented on the increment freeze. Their focus and analysis was done in terms of public officers’ pension reform. So they have actually pulled together an analysis and focused on a set of recommendations on pension reform, which I believe they have discussed with the unions directly as well.”