Belize [English bə li ː z, spanish be lise], state in Central America on the east coast of the peninsula Yucatán with (2018) 383 100 residents; The capital is Belmopan.
BELIZE
The former British colony of Belize is dominated by sugar production and tourism. The population of about 300,000 residents differs politically, culturally and ethnically from the other countries in Central America. English-speaking Belize has more in common with the Caribbean than with its neighbors. In the economically important sectors such as banana plantations and free zones, anti-union methods are regularly used. Employers determine wages and working conditions entirely on their own.
Country Facts
State condition: Parliamentary monarchy
Surface: 22,965 km2
Capital: Belmopan
Language: English
Labor market and economy:
The economy is dominated by tourism, which accounts for a quarter of GDP, while agriculture, mainly sugar, bananas and citrus fruits, accounts for a fifth of GDP. Belize has also invested in attracting international companies, including banks and financial institutions. Just over 16,000 international companies are currently operating in the country on very favorable terms. The United States has expressed concern about the establishment of companies to launder drug money, and both the United States and the European Union have demanded that Belize tighten controls and legislation to prevent money laundering.
The economy is dominated by tourism, which accounts for a quarter of GDP, while agriculture, mainly sugar, bananas and citrus fruits, accounts for a fifth of GDP. Belize has also invested in attracting international companies, including banks and financial institutions. Just over 16,000 international companies are currently operating in the country on very favorable terms. The United States has expressed concern about the establishment of companies to launder drug money, and both the United States and the European Union have demanded that Belize tighten controls and legislation to prevent money laundering.
BELIZE
The law guarantees collective bargaining, but for a trade union to have the right to bargain, they must have the support of 51 percent of the employees. Problems with the employees’ legal right to form trade unions exist mainly on the banana plantations and in the assembly plants in the economic free zones where employers determine wages and working conditions entirely on their own.
Unions
The trade union movement was legalized in 1941, but only about ten percent of the labor force is unionized. The most important trade unions are the National Trade Union Congress of Belize (NTUCB), a member of the world trade union ITUC, and the Christian Workers’ Union.
Belmopan
According to usaers, Belmopan [English bel mə ʊ p ɑ ː n, Spanish bεl Mopan], since 1970 the capital of the Central American state of Belize, in the interior, 80 km from the former capital Belize City removed (2019) 24,300 residents (especially government officials and – employee).
University of Belize, Archaeological Museum.