AmbergrisCaye.com Home Forums Belize Life Employment Pay Rates over the Easter Holidays

Some one just asked us what the pay rates are over the Easter Holidays.

Any ideas?

Not going to get to Labor before they close today....

Unless it has changed since last year it is 2x on Friday and Monday and 1.5x on Saturday.

NOTICE TO MEMBERS WHO OPERATE BUSINESSES



Under the laws of Belize as exercised by the Stann Creek Liquor Licensing Board please note that from Midnight on Holy Thursday until Midnight on Good Friday no establishment on the Peninsula may sell any alcoholic beverage. This does not mean that restaurants or grocery stores must close; only that they refrain from serving or selling alcohol. In fact, due to the large number of expected visitors we encourage restaurants to open Good Friday and serve our hungry guests. All employers should also note that the following days require payment of overtime as follows:



Good Friday: Double Time

Saturday: Time-and-a-half

Sunday: Regular work day if part of normally scheduled hours, Time-and-a-half if not part of regular hours

Monday: Double Time



If employees are not asked to work on these days they receive their full regular weekly or bi-weekly salaries. If they do work on these overtime days they receive the Time-and-a-half or Double Time, NOT regular pay PLUS the Time-and-a-half or Double Time. Any additional inducements to work on those days are at the discretion of employers but are not required by law.

NOTICE TO MEMBERS WHO OPERATE BUSINESSES



Under the laws of Belize as exercised by the Stann Creek Liquor Licensing Board please note that from Midnight on Holy Thursday until Midnight on Good Friday no establishment on the Peninsula may sell any alcoholic beverage. This does not mean that restaurants or grocery stores must close; only that they refrain from serving or selling alcohol. In fact, due to the large number of expected visitors we encourage restaurants to open Good Friday and serve our hungry guests. All employers should also note that the following days require payment of overtime as follows:



Good Friday: Double Time

Saturday: Time-and-a-half

Sunday: Regular work day if part of normally scheduled hours, Time-and-a-half if not part of regular hours

Monday: Double Time



If employees are not asked to work on these days they receive their full regular weekly or bi-weekly salaries. If they do work on these overtime days they receive the Time-and-a-half or Double Time, NOT regular pay PLUS the Time-and-a-half or Double Time. Any additional inducements to work on those days are at the discretion of employers but are not required by law.

There seems to be a HUGE differing of opinions/interpretations of the overtime laws in Belize. I've heard from various ("reliable") sources completely contradictory info.

If for example, I have an employee who make $100 day.

If the employee does not work on say Good Friday, they receive their regular pay of $100, correct?

If they DO work do they receive
2X their regular pay = $200, or
their regular pay ($100) PLUS 2X their pay ($200) = $300.

Would LOVE a definitive answer. Again, I have been told (by accountants, GOB representatives, etc) completely contradictory info.

Don't work normal pay. Work normal pay plus uplift so $300 my understanding.

Dug this up from 2010, via Michael Fox, local CPA.


...For all of the holidays listed above except for three (3) holidays, an employee who works on the holiday is entitled to payment of his regular pay PLUS payment of 1 � times his regular pay, for a total payment of 2 � times his regular pay.
For three (3) of the holidays listed above, an employee who works on the holiday is entitled to payment of his regular pay PLUS payment of 2 times his regular pay, for a total payment of 3 times his regular pay. Those three (3) holidays are: Good Friday, Easter Monday, Christmas Day.
An employee who does not work on the holiday is entitled to payment of his customary regular pay if the holiday falls on a scheduled work day. But s/he must also be at work on the scheduled work day immediately preceding the holiday and the scheduled work day immediately following the holiday to be entitled to payment of holiday pay for the day not worked.

If this is correct then what Katie states above is INCORRECT.

Anyone???

You can see why lot's of businesses (ourselves included) opt to close over the Easter holiday... impossible to not lose $$$.

My understanding has always been that employees working on Good Friday, Easter Monday and Christmas Day receive 2X their regular pay and their regular pay if they do not work on those days but they must work the day before and the day after. Also, the other holidays pay 1.5 X regular pay.

I was just told this morning that employees receiving a "salary" do not fall under these overtime payments, although we have been paying our salaried employee 1.5X what would be his daily rate on Holidays that he actually works.

Last time I had to call the Labor Board to clarify and looks like that may be required again.

That is correct. It has always been their regular wage PLUS the over time.

I do recall that last year (2011) on the morning show the labour department made changes to some of their rules. Maybe someone can call on Monday and confirm here if the holiday pay rule has changed or not.

Yes, they did make some changes but I am going to call them on Monday. Will send email today but probably won't get an answer before Monday anyway, and will post here.