While the N.T.U.C.B. is removed from the House

While the walkout by Opposition members ended the day, it wasn’t the first of the day. For weeks the N.T.U.C.B. has been agitating for the introduction of the Occupational Safety and Health Bill in the House. This is a bill which has been in the works for years, but despite extensive vetting locally and regionally, it has not made it onto the agenda. On December ninth the N.T.U.C.B. issued a release in which it acknowledged today’s House meeting, stating, “the Congress wishes to declare that it expectantly awaits the introduction of the Occupational Safety and health Bill in the House of Representatives for its first reading at this House sitting.” Well, they waited in vain. The bill wasn’t introduced, and when it became clear that it wouldn’t be, the members of the N.T.U.C.B. executive sitting in the gallery made their displeasure known.

Marvin Mora, Second Vice-President, N.T.U.C.B.

Marvin Mora

“It’s a signal that 2014, we mean business; we are not here to play. These are people who are getting hurt out there; it’s a people who are on the line…it’s our social security money that are depleting because of the fact that we are paying out too much which comes down to organization safety health. If we can pass these laws, we can have benefits for everybody. We would see the rippling effects of those benefits translated to every single aspect of our economy.”

Dylan Reneau

Dylan Reneau, President, N.T.U.C.B.

“They’ve promised to introduce that bill and pass the Occupational Safety and Health Bill. And we’ve seen bills come after our bill and see bills passed through the house and so we had to make a very strong statement. And this is just the first step because as we said from our annual general meeting, the year 2014 will be the year of the workers and the year of action.”

Reporter

“So explained. Why has it been frustrated, insistent so long? I remember the very demonstrative statement you all put out which apparently had no effect. Why is it languishing?”

Dylan Reneau

“Well we would want the Prime Minister to respond to that because all the work has been done, the social partners agreed to the legislation. Why has it not moved?”

Reporter

“For those of us not familiar with the bill, why is the bill so important to the well-being of workers?”

Dylan Reneau

“The bill is important because we have some very archaic legislation on the books right now that deal with safety and health issues. We’ve had the worker in B.S.I. that was burnt and actually died thereafter because of some issues as the workplace. What we are saying is that we are seeing more and more precarious jobs in Belize and we want the legislation to protect workers.”

Marvin Mora

“I think you remember the current Prime Minister stating that there was a time for civil disobedience. We hope that it doesn’t reach to that stage, but if it does reach, the N.T.U.C.B. will be ready.”