Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2025, published 114th ILC session (2026)

Maternity Protection Convention, 2000 (No. 183) - Belize (Ratification: 2005)

Article 2 of the Convention. Scope of protection. Domestic workers. The Committee notes that, according to the Government, the Labour Act (Chapter Nº 297, 31 December 1959) fully applies to domestic workers, but that the provisions related to maternity protection shall only apply to a domestic servant who has worked with the same employer for a period of not less than twelve consecutive months immediately preceding a permitted absence from work. The Committee recalls that the Convention applies to all employed women, including those in atypical forms of dependent work, and that all employed women under the scope shall be covered and afforded effective access to maternity protection. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the measures adopted to ensure that domestic workers are sufficient and effectively covered in cases of maternity.

Article 6. Cash benefits paid by employer.The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the proposal to replace the current individual liability of employers for the cost of maternity benefits for women who are not covered by the Social Security Act or who do not fulfil the minimum contribution requirements, by the provision of corresponding social assistance benefits.

Article 8, in relation to articles 4 and 5. Employment protection. (i) Period of protection after returning to work. The Committee notes that the national legislation does not provide for protection against dismissal during a period following the return to work, as required by the Convention. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the existence of a protected period against dismissal following the return to work after the periods of leave referred to in Articles 4 or 5 of the Convention, as prescribed by national laws or regulations.

(ii) Burden of proof. The Committee takes note that, according to section 204 of the Labour Act, “in any claim or complaint arising out of the dismissal or termination of a worker, the standard of proof required of the worker shall be on a balance of probabilities, civil standard”. The Committee recalls that the burden of proving that the reasons for dismissal are unrelated to pregnancy or childbirth and its consequences or nursing shall rest on the employer. The Committee therefore requests the Government to provide information on the measures adopted to ensure that the burden of proving that the reasons for dismissal are not related to pregnancy or childbirth and its consequences, or nursing, rest on the employer.

Article 10. Breastfeeding breaks.The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the measures adopted to ensure, in national law and practice, that one or more breastfeeding breaks or a daily reduction of hours of work for breastfeeding are provided to woman workers, and that these breaks or reductions are considered as working time and remunerated accordingly.