The Public Service Union of Belize faces a critical decision regarding its ongoing labor dispute with the government concerning the proposed establishment of a Semi-Autonomous Revenue Authority (SARA). Following formal written commitments from authorities, union leadership has initiated a membership vote to determine whether to withdraw their active trade dispute declaration.
The conflict originated in early November 2025 when the PSU filed an official trade dispute, citing exclusion from crucial policy discussions and expressing substantive concerns regarding operational efficiency, implementation costs, and most significantly, employee welfare protections during the proposed transition from the Belize Tax Service to SARA.
A significant development occurred on December 3, 2025, when government representatives presented formal assurances including a guaranteed delay in SARA implementation until no earlier than October 2026. Additionally, authorities pledged to conduct meaningful consultations with the union once draft legislation and transition documents are finalized.
The union has established a December 16, 2025 deadline for the government to provide clear timelines regarding two key processes: the formation of a joint committee to guide consultation procedures and the completion of all draft documentation. These confidence-building measures have prompted government officials to formally request dispute withdrawal.
PSU leadership has now delegated the final decision to its membership through an official polling process, placing the future trajectory of this labor-government negotiation directly in the hands of rank-and-file members whose working conditions would be most affected by the proposed institutional changes.