3 weeks ago
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Some 236 public officers may be at risk of either being constructively dismissed, get a demotion or suffer financial losses. The workers are currently attached to the Belize Tax Services Department (BTSD), but with the transformation into a statutory body, changes are imminent. The Public Service Union (PSU) is sounding alarms over the fate of these public officers as it relates to their employment. According to the union president, Dean Flowers, the Director General of BTSD is being disingenuous when she told Love News last week that no one stands to lose their jobs. The PSU hosted a meeting this afternoon with its membership in the BTSD after which Flowers gave the media an interview where he declared that the union’s concerns are not making a mountain out of a mole hill as has been remarked by senior government officials.
Dean Flowers, President, PSU: “As the director would have suggested to the media I understand last week is that staff members will be afforded the opportunity to resign. I believe that’s an option. To transfer into the wider public service or to transition into SARA. Now, if you force me to resign because I do not wish to interview for the position I currently hold. I already hold a position in the Belize Tax Services Department / SARA. You’re saying to me that I can transition but I must interview for the position that I already hold. A position that was offered to me by the Public Services Commission, a position that I accepted and I have accrued certain benefits. My terms and conditions are set, whether it’s compensation in terms of salary, allowances, whether it’s my right or my privilege or my entitlement to ultimately earn a gratuity and a pension, you’re saying to me that even though these things are already guaranteed to me, I would have to forego them. You’re not giving me option because if I want to transition I have to interview for a position I already hold and if I don’t, if I fail to meet your requirements for the position I already hold what next? Where am I going to transition to? What if you say to me, well you’re currently a manager but the interviewing team which will comprise of a politically appointed advisory committee says well you know I don’t like Marisol. I think she disrespected me at some point during her career so I don’t want her to be a manager but we could give her a clerk position and people might say how the hell are you going from a manager to a clerk? Well, go and ask the people at the Companies Registry what happened to them. They’re pushing papers, some of them who were already managers who were next in line to be director. So this nonsense that Michelle Longsworth is preaching that you could transition into the SARA is utter….I don’t want to use some bad words you know.”
President Flowers went on to assess the options that the public officers would have in the transitioning period. Of the three options, he noted that it is the public officers who would stand to lose. He added that the fact that there has been no consultation is even more worrying.
Dean Flowers, President, PSU: “Let’s go through the different options. Resign. What if I’m not in a financial position to resign ? If I resign, they’re saying, if you have less than 10 years…..and this is coming from the Ministry of Finance you know and more specifically the Undersecretary….if you have less than 10 years you have no vesting period. So we’re not entitled to pay you any severance or any gratuity or any anything. You get to go home. So how do you force people to resign and say you’re giving them an option and send them home with nothing ? It is my understanding that now they’ve changed that narrative after meeting with us and saying that they’re consulting with the Labour Department. There’s no need to consult with the Labour Department. The Labour Act already provides that after five years, people are entitled to a severance. But these people are not your average workers. They’re permanently established public officers who are entitled to a gratuity and a pension if they meet certain years of service. So an improved separation package should have been designed or looked at for those who choose to resign. Then you’re saying you could transfer into the wider public service. Transfer where? Transfer where? You’ll treat them like what you did to those officers at the Companies Registry ? Transfer a deputy director to a clerk? Because the only place you could have put them was a ministry where you could have found to squeeze them into ? What kind of option is that? What kind of justice is that? What kind of dignity is that? What kind of messaging is that? And what bothers me is that the Constitution of Belize which establishes the Public Service Commission under Section 105 mandates that there must be consultation with the representative of workers in these type of instances.”
Currently, the BTSD is transitioning into a Semi-Autonomous Revenue Authority also referred to as SARA. could lead to the constructive dismissal of these employees, leaving them without jobs. Love News understands that PSU’s worry stems from reports that the new SARA structure may only accommodate a significantly reduced number of positions compared to the current staffing levels at the BTSD. There are several other factors listed by the PSU regarding the transition which we will share with you in tomorrow’s newscast.
English (US) ·