The Government of Belize has initiated a comprehensive Anti-Sexual Harassment Policy designed to establish safer public workplaces and provide enhanced protections for employees. Announced on February 17, 2026, this policy framework explicitly defines prohibited behaviors, outlines formal reporting mechanisms, and specifies disciplinary consequences for violations.
Despite widespread acknowledgment of the policy’s necessity, the Public Service Union (PSU) has raised significant concerns regarding its development process. Anissa Perdomo, First Vice President of the PSU, emphasized the union’s full support for the policy’s objectives while criticizing the government’s failure to engage the recognized bargaining agent during its formulation.
Perdomo referenced constitutional provisions and the Trade Unions Act, which mandate consultation with worker representatives on matters affecting employment conditions and disciplinary procedures. The union contends that without meaningful participation from those representing government workers, the policy’s effectiveness remains questionable.
Key concerns highlighted by the PSU include the policy’s enforcement mechanisms, alignment with international standards, and responsiveness to contemporary women’s rights movements. The union maintains that genuine worker protection requires inclusive decision-making processes that incorporate frontline perspectives through their elected representatives.
The development underscores the ongoing tension between policy implementation and stakeholder engagement in public sector reforms, with the PSU advocating for revised consultation protocols before full implementation.