07/15/2009

BMDU, KHMHA Board & Labour Commissioner meet

Belmopan - 15 July, 2009

On Monday 13th July 2009, a mediation/conciliation meeting was held between representatives of the Belize Medical and Dental Union (BMDU) and the Board of the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital Authority (KHMHA) with the Labour Commissioner at the Best Western Belize Biltmore Plaza.

The BMDU’s proposals were presented to the Board of the KHMHA and they in turn presented their counterproposals.  Several points were immediately agreed upon.  The two proposals were amalgamated and now form a joint twelve-point Draft Memorandum of Understanding.

Throughout the meeting the parties maintained cordial relations, conducive to an amicable settlement.

Another Meeting will be held shortly to finalize the proposed joint MOU.

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For more information, contact:

Mr. Ivan Williams,
Labour Commissioner,
Tel: 501-822-2663
Email: sec.labour.comm@labour.gov.bz. 

07/02/2009

Labour Minister may appoint Arbitration Tribunal to settle KHMH Issue

Belmopan - 02 July, 2009
Today, Thursday July 2nd, 2009, a mediation/conciliation meeting was held between representatives of the Belize Medical and Dental Union (BMDU) and the Board of the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital Authority (KHMHA) with the Labour Commissioner.

The KHMHA counterproposals were presented to the BMDU and were rejected by the Union. The BMDU decided to totally withdraw from the mediation/conciliation process.

The proposals made by the Union on Monday, June 30th, 2009 and the counterproposals made by the KHMHA would have formed the basis of the discussion today with a view to arriving at an amicable settlement. However, to arrive at such a settlement would have required a degree of compromise between the parties relative to the proposals and counterproposals.

The next step in the process is the appointment of an Arbitration Tribunal by the Minister of Labour. The Minister has the power to appoint an Essential Services Arbitration Tribunal as provided for in the Settlement of Disputes in Essential Services Act.

Section 15 of this Act provides for the prohibition of any lockout and strikes unless the disputes had been reported to the Minister and a period of 21 days has elapsed since the date of the report, and the dispute has not during that period been resolved.

KHMHA Board postpones mediation proceedings

Belmopan - 01 July, 2009
Today, July 1st, 2009, the meeting which was scheduled between representatives of the Belize Medical and Dental Union (BMDU) and the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital Authority (KHMHA) with the Labour Commissioner was not held.

Earlier today, the Labour Commissioner received a letter from the Secretary of the KHMHA Board which sought a postponement of the mediation/conciliation meeting and begged the indulgence of the BMDU in that regard. The letter further stated that the KHMHA Board is prepared to have the next meeting on Thursday, July 2nd, 2009 at 2pm.

The Labour Commissioner held a brief discussion with the representatives of the BMDU regarding the request made by the Board of Directors of the KHMHA and they were encouraged to attend tomorrow’s meeting.

It is the hope of the Labour Commissioner that the points of discussion presented by the Union at Monday’s meeting which sought to have been reviewed today will be discussed tomorrow.

The Mediator calls on both parties to refrain from any behavior prejudicial to the outcome of the mediation/conciliation proceedings.

06/23/2009

Attempts to settle KHMH dispute deferred

Belmopan - 23 June, 2009
In relation to the allegations of corruption at the KHMH and the accompanying disagreement between the KHMH Board and members of the Belize Medical and Dental Association, an attempt made today by the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Labour to reach a settlement have been deferred.

Minister of Labour Hon. Gabriel Martinez invoked section 11(3) of the Settlement of Disputes in Essential Services Act, Chapter 298 of the Laws of Belize, Revised Edition 2000. By the powers vested in him by way of that Act, Minister Martinez referred the dispute for settlement by mediation/conciliation and appointed Mr. Ivan Williams, Commissioner of Labour as mediator/conciliator. He set June 23, 2009, 3 PM at Radisson Fort George as the time and venue for the commencement of the mediation/conciliation proceedings.

Showing up for today’s meeting planned for 3:00 PM at the Radisson Fort George, were representatives from the Board of Directors of KHMH as well as representatives from the Ministry of Health, including the Minister of Health Hon. Pablo Marin and CEO Doctor Peter Allen, Labour Commissioner Ivan Williams and his Deputy. They waited until 5:30PM but no one showed up on behalf of the Belize Medical and Dental Union. The Labour Commissioner later informed the Board that he had gotten in touch with leaders of the union who agreed for a new meeting to be set for tomorrow June 24, 2009 at a specific time to be agreed upon.

The Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Labour and the Government of Belize remain committed to the process of finding a timely and workable solution to the satisfaction of all parties concerned and in the interest of the Belizean public.

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Ministry of Labour
Belmopan
822-2663

05/05/2009

Labour Department and AIDS Commission host Peer training session

Belmopan - 05 May, 2009
The Labour Department in Collaboration with the National AIDS Commission is hosting a Peer Education training session.

The 2–day training session take place at the Belize Biltmore Best Western Plaza Hotel today and tomorrow May 5th and 6th and has the participation of 14 private sector companies.

This training session is the last of a 3-part program which these entities have been undergoing. The program is geared toward providing private sector organizations with the basic principles of HIV/AIDS, Policy Development and implementation of workplace policies. Some of these organizations have voluntarily developed their policies and will be officially signing off on them today.

Mrs. Stephanie Gillett Jimenez and Mr. Rodel Beltran Perrera from the Alliance Against AIDS are facilitating the session.

For More information contact:
Hertha Gentle
Senior Labour Officer
Tel: 227-6214/227-4027
Fax: 227-4031