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The problem is that although the labor force has all these rights, many workers are not educated about what they are entitled to from their employers. So today, the Ministry of Labour held country-wide Open Day Fairs at its office. 7News stopped in at the Belize City branch. And here's what the Deputy Labour Commissioner told us about its significance:

Paulette Wagner - Deputy Labor Commissioner
"Well it's an effort that the Labor Department had decided to try to do a country wide open day in recognition that tomorrow being the Labor Day. We want to showcase the services that the Labor Department offers to the public. A lot of our employed people do not know their basic rights such as the minimum wage, what they are to be earning, and the average working hours (45 hours a week). They don't seem to understand that that is their right and they should demand it. In some cases the people do know their right but because they want to keep their job, they take jobs that don't pay according to labor laws. Most of the time our job is to entertain Labor complaints that have stopped working or have lost their job and they would come to us with these situations and we then investigate and contact the employers to see if they have labor benefits and try to collect them."

Daniel Ortiz
"I know you should work a certain amount of hours and there are certain conditions that you are by right should have but these are hard times and we have to accept jobs that as they come forward."

Paulette Wagner
"That is the general attitude of most working people but we think if we educate you to say 'this is the law' and if the employee has the information and the employer also has the information then together they can stay within the law. The average working week is 45 hours and when we work for more than 45 hours you should be paid time and a half - this is what is called 'overtime'. So there is nothing wrong with contracting to work people over 45 hours - the problem is when the employers choose to pay a flat rate for the extra hours; that is the kind of complaints that we get. In addition to incorrect wages - everyone that has worked a complete year is entitled to two working weeks vacation pay. A lot of employers that don't pay this, they would have people work the complete year at regular wages with no consideration for 'Vacation Pay'. The other popular issue is 'Severance Pay' - when you've worked for more than five years you are qualified for severance pay which is one week pay for every year. If you work for more than ten years then you get two weeks for every year over ten years."

The Labour Department has started a new program called the Public Employment Service. This program will provide job seekers with skills they will need to become employed. Those who would like to participate in the program can visit Belize City Labour Department at #5 Albert Street West.