Wages

(1) All categories of workers shall normally be paid at daily rates at such pay periods as the Head of Department may determine. (2) Payment for incomplete hours of work shall be made at the following rates15 minutes or less - 15 minutes pay 16 - 30 minutes - 30 minutes pay 31 - 60 minutes - 60 minutes pay (3) Piece work and task work will be used whenever possible. Rates for tasks and piece rates should be set, as far as possible, so that employment on these conditions would enable an average worker to earn half as much again as the time rate for the job. Task and piece rates may only be altered after consultation with the appropriate Union Representative where one has been elected in accordance with regulation 26. Payment of (4) Wages will normally be paid weekly, but in some circumstances where a worker is required to camp away from his station or in remote areas it may be paid fortnightly or monthly at the discretion of the Head of Department. Belize Constitution 171 Advances of (5) Advances of wages may be made to a worker at the discretion of the Head of Department concerned. An advance may not exceed six weeks’ wages on any one occasion and the total of advances outstanding to a worker at any one time may not exceed six weeks’ wages. An advance shall not be granted as a matter of course but only after careful inquiry to make certain that it will be used by the worker for one of the following purposes– (a) to buy articles for use at work; (b) to meet expenditure for replacement of property lost or irreparably damaged due to fire, hurricane, flood, earthquake, or other act of God; (c) to meet medical expenses for himself or a member of his immediate family but only on presentation of the necessary certificate; or (d) to meet funeral expenses for a member of his immediate family. (6) An exceptional advance of wages may be made at the discretion of the Head of Department concerned to a worker who has served for not less than one year to enable either the worker, himself or a member of his immediate family– (a) to purchase necessary household items such as refrigerator, stove and furniture, bathroom fixtures; (b) to obtain medical treatment within or outside Belize which is specifically recommended by a registered medical practitioner in Belize. Such an advance shall be limited as follows 172 Belize Constitution and must have the prior approval of the Ministry of Finance1 to 5 years’ service - 8 weeks’ wages 5 to 10 years’ service - 12 weeks’ wages over 10 years’ service - 16 weeks’ wages. (6:01) An exceptional advance of wages shall carry a nominal service charge of five percent (or such other percentage as may be determined in circulars issued by the Ministry of Finance) recoverable at the time of the issue of the advance. (7) All advances must be repaid by reasonable instalments according to the probable duration of employment and as directed by the Head of Department. The instalments to be deducted from wages should normally be not less than one quarter nor more than one-third of the wages of the worker due for any wage period. Unless the Ministry of Finance approves for any particular case a longer period for repayment, an advance must be repaid in full within the following limitsAMOUNT OF ADVANCE LIMITATION 8 weeks’ wages or less 32 weeks Over 8 weeks’ up to 12 weeks’ wages 48 weeks Over 12 week’s up to 16 weeks’ wages 64 weeks (8) New workers recently employed will only be entitled to an advance of no more than two weeks’ wages to assist them in purchasing tools. deductions. (9) The following deductions only may be made from the wages of a workerBelize Constitution 173 (a) sums paid out by the Department in respect of the pay period for any family allotment authorized by the worker; (b) the value of any food supplied by any restaurant or any service for the supply of cooked food operated by the Department for workers, if the worker has previously granted authority in writing for such deduction; (c) the reasonable cost of replacing or repairing any accommodation or tools or equipment supplied to any worker for his work which is lost or damaged by him through his wilful intent, carelessness or neglect; (d) repayment of any advance made by the Government; (e) the amount of any contribution to a provident fund, sickness benefit fund, credit union, or trade union if such deduction has been previously authorised in writing by the worker (subject to regulation 27); (f) deductions for lateness on the following basis15 mins. late or less - 15 mins. Pay 16 mins. to 30 mins. Late - 30 mins. Pay 31 - 60 mins. late - 1hr’s pay’; (These deductions shall not prejudice the right of a Head of Department to discharge any worker for persistent lateness, provided that the worker has first been warned verbally and 174 Belize Constitution on a second occasion in writing by a senior officer); (g) other deductions as may be required by-law such as income tax and social security. Wages on discharge. (10) A worker discharged during the pay period shall be paid not later than the next working day after such discharge, the balance of wages due to him.