Three days before the 2026 Labour Day celebrations, a landmark piece of worker protection legislation that Belize’s labour movement had spent decades campaigning for was unexpectedly pulled from the Senate’s approval agenda, leaving organized labour groups stunned and derailing planned celebratory moments at this year’s national workers’ rallies.
The Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Bill, which had been years in the making, was designed to bring sweeping updates to Belize’s outdated workplace safety rules. If enacted, it would formalize legal liability for employers who fail to meet safety standards, introduce mandatory reporting requirements for workplace accidents, and establish a dedicated team of safety inspectors to enforce regulations across every industry operating in the country. For Belize’s unions, the final Senate approval of the bill three days before Labour Day was set to be a landmark victory — one that organizers planned to center during rallies held across the country to mark the annual workers’ holiday.
Prior to the surprise adjournment, both government and opposition legislators signaled broad support for the long-overdue legislation. Eamon Courtenay, Leader of Government Business in the Senate, opened debate by framing the bill as a carefully negotiated compromise that balanced the rights of workers, business owners, and employers while delivering critical safety protections for all working people.
“We believe that it represents the best balance that is achievable, that respects the working conditions, the place of work, the rights of workers, the rights of businesses, the rights of owners of businesses and it provides for safety,” Courtenay told the chamber. “I have no doubt that all senators will support the bill. It is our hope and expectation that we can do so hopefully on this occasion with not many amendments and that we will be able to move the bill forward and pass it so that it can be brought into force. It is long overdue. We know that the unions have been advocating for it forever. We are hoping that the day is near where we can see it as a part of our law.”
Opposition Senator Patrick Faber also echoed the long-overdue nature of the bill, saying his caucus was thrilled to see the legislation reach the final voting stage. Even as he praised the core goal of the bill, Faber noted that the opposition had identified specific flaws that could be easily addressed to strengthen the legislation for both workers and employers across Belize.
“We absolutely, absolutely are ecstatic that this bill is before us. We think it is long overdue. We think it is time but we feel that it is our obligation to point out these flaws,” Faber said. “These things that can be readily addressed in the manner in which we have suggested to make this bill the best bill for occupation in this country, for workers in this country, for employers in this country, for the safety of our entire nation.”
After this opening debate, Courtenay made a sudden request for a 10-minute recess to hold internal consultations on the bill. The request was granted, and the Senate suspended proceedings. When the chamber reconvened, Senate President Carolyn Trench-Sandiford announced that the OSH Bill 2025 would remain stuck at the second reading legislative stage, effectively shelving the legislation indefinitely with no further public explanation for the last-minute change of plans.
The abrupt shelving of the bill marks the latest in a long string of setbacks for the labour movement, which has pushed for national occupational safety and health reform for more than 10 years. What was poised to be a celebratory centerpiece for this year’s Labour Day marches has now shifted into a new flashpoint for worker advocacy, with union leaders preparing to turn Friday’s rallies into platforms demanding urgent action to advance the long-blocked legislation.