Tomorrow we step aside from the usual rigors of the work week to honour the Belizean worker. From the scatterer of seeds to the Chairman of the Board, Labour Day is a day to honour the man and woman who puts hands and heart to providing for themselves and their families.
Every Belizean worker, from the stay at home mom to those who work the night shift is a part of the development of our nation and we must honour their contribution to our development.
In the People’s United Party we understand the importance of the many hardworking Belizeans; we appreciate their contribution and honour their efforts, after all our party was born from the labour movement in fact the PUP is the Party of the working class. We have all always stood with the working man and woman for their story is as rich and powerful as the history of the People’s United Party.
It is a challenging time for the Belizean worker, today we find ourselves working so much harder for less; today more is spent at the grocery store than ever before. More of our salaries are being spent just feeding our families leaving less for other important needs to be met. And while the cost of living keep rising and rising and rising we hear of no plan to raise the minimum wage or to give some form of relief to the Belizean worker. Our government can do better. In the budget proposed by the previous administration provisions were made to ensure that workers be given a raise of pay. We all know that as our workers prosper our Nation prospers, just like we know that as our workers develop their skills and abilities our development is enhanced. Our workers are our future and we must protect them as they work to protect their families.
On this Labour Day let us pay tribute to the Belizean worker, but more so let us commit to working with them to provide good jobs, safe working environments and a pay check that will meet the needs of providing for our families. Let us put our efforts to work for our workers, for when we do this we work to the development of Belize.
A happy and peaceful Labour Day; may the Almighty bless our workers and bless Belize.