Regulations

The Minister may after consultation with the Tripartite Body and the Registrar, make Regulations for the better carrying out of the provisions of this Act, and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, such Regulations may provide for, (a) the form of the Register to be kept and maintained by the Registrar under section 13 (1) of this Act; (b) the form of the application which may be made by a trade union under section 23 (1) of this Act; (c) the form of the notice to be given by an employer under section 26 of this Act; (d) the fees payable by trade unions or employers’ organisations applying to be registered under this Act; Trade Unions and Employers; Organisations (Registration, 38 Recognition and Status) (e) the type of information required under section 24 (2) (b) of this Act; (f) any other thing which may appropriately be provided in Regulations made under this section. Trade Unions and Employers; Organisations (Registration, Recognition and Status) 39 SCHEDULE 1 TRADE UNIONS AND EMPLOYERS’ ORGANISATIONS (REGISTRATION, RECOGNITION AND STATUS) ACT Information to be included in the Constitution of every trade union and employers’ organisation. (Section 14 (1)) 1. the name of the trade union or the employers’ organisation; 2. the objects of the trade union or the employers’ organisation; 3. the qualifications necessary for membership of the trade union or the employers’ organisation; 4. provisions dealing with officers of the trade union or employers’ organisation, including the President or Chairperson of the trade union or employers’ organisation, and the Secretary General or Secretary and Treasurer thereof; 5. provisions regulating the holding of general and other meetings and the period for holding such meetings which, in the case of general meetings, shall be at least once every year; 6. provisions regulating the making of resolutions by members and officers, and the manner in which such resolution may be made; Trade Unions and Employers; Organisations (Registration, 40 Recognition and Status) 7. the fees and other subscriptions payable by members, and the maximum amount of arrears allowable before a member loses his good standing; 8. the grounds on which an officer or member may be expelled, suspended or disciplined; 9. The procedures to be followed during any proceedings for the suspension, expulsion or disciplining of a member or an officer, and the manner in which allegations against a member or an officer may be brought to his attention, and the time which shall be given to such member or officer to enable him to fully prepare his defence and to be heard; 10. The grounds on which suspended, disciplined or expelled members may make an appeal, and the person or body to whom or to which such appeal may be made; 11. Provisions for the keeping of full and accurate records of a financial or other nature by the Treasurer and other officers, and for regulating the annual carrying out of financial audits by duly qualified auditors who are not members or officers, and the furnishing to all members at general or other meetings or upon request of fully audited annual statements of account; 12. Provisions for the banking and investment of the funds of the trade union or employers’ organisation; 13. provisions for the disbursement of funds, including the signing of cheques and other financial instruments; 14. Provisions regulating the entitlement of members and officers to financial and other benefits from the funds and other resources of the trade union or employers’ organisation; Trade Unions and Employers; Organisations (Registration, Recognition and Status) 41 15. Provisions for the amendment of the Constitution, or the repeal and replacement thereof; 16. Provisions specifying the duration of the financial year; 12. Provisions governing the inspection of Registers of members and other books; 13. Provisions specifying the manner in which an amalgamation as provided in section 17 of the Act may be carried out; 14. Provisions regarding dissolution and winding up, and the distribution of property. Trade Unions and Employers; Organisations (Registration, 42 Recognition and Status) SCHEDULE 2 TRADE UNIONS AND EMPLOYERS’ ORGANISATIONS (REGISTRATION, RECOGNITION AND STATUS ACT Tripartite Body (Section 22 (2)) 1. Composition (a) The composition of the Tripartite Body shall be made up of nine members appointed by the Minister, three of whom shall be nominated by the Minister, the other three by the trade unions and the last three by the employers’ organisations, the total number of such members being nine (9). (b) The Minister shall appoint the Chairperson of the Tripartite Body from the members nominated by him pursuant to paragraph (a). 2. Quorum (a) Any six (6) of the members of the Tripartite Body present and voting at any meeting shall constitute a quorum for that meeting. (b) If the Chairperson is absent or incapable of acting as such at any meeting due to the existence of an interest in the matters to be decided thereat or otherwise, the members Trade Unions and Employers; Organisations (Registration, Recognition and Status) 43 present shall elect one of their number to preside at that meeting. (c) In the event of an equality of votes, the Chairperson (or the person appointed pursuant to paragraph (b) shall have a second or casting vote. 3. Duties of the Chairperson In addition to the duties imposed upon the Chairperson by this Act, or such other duties as may from time to time be unanimously imposed on the chairperson by all nine (9) members of the Tripartite Body, the chairperson shall additionally have the duties of, (i) chairing the meeting of the Tripartite Body; (ii) coordinating the recognition and enforcement of International Labour Organisation Conventions ratified by, and standards agreed to, by the Government of Belize; (iii) liasing with the Registrar and other authorities on matters related to the implementation of this or other related Acts; (iv) causing quarterly reports of the work of the Tripartite Body on the certification process in each bargaining unit to be sent to the Minister, trade unions and employers or employers’ organisations, and Trade Unions and Employers; Organisations (Registration, 44 Recognition and Status) making copies of such reports available to interested persons, on payment of a fee or otherwise. 4. Logistical and administrative support (a) The Tripartite Body shall have a full-time office funded equally by the Government, employers’ organisations and trade unions. (b) If the work of the Tripartite Body requires the services of an attorney, a Law Officer shall be provided by the Government. 5. Decisions of the Tripartite Body Decisions of the Tripartite Body shall as far as possible be unanimous, but if this cannot be achieved, decisions shall be by majority vote, with the person presiding at any meeting having a second or casting vote in the event of a tie or an equality of votes. 6. Meetings The Government, trade unions or employers’ organisations representatives on the Tripartite Body shall requisition the Chairperson to call a meeting as the need arises from time to time. (The Minister shall request the Chairperson to call special meetings.) 7. Hearing of appeals Appeals shall lie to the Tripartite Body pursuant to sections 13 (7) and 15 (3) of this Act.