By Aaron Humes: Belize Electricity Limited (BEL) is maintaining that in relation to former employees asking for severance on the basis of the November 5, 2025 Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) ruling, they have been paid their severance under the company’s pension plan since at least 2007.
BEL acknowledged that claims had been submitted following the CCJ ruling and confirmed that a comprehensive review would look back as far as 1988, addressing claims from separations over 25 years ago.
However, the statement contends: “Our review confirms that over the years, BEL has paid severance to its employees on their departure as required under the law. Furthermore, since 2007 the Company has explicitly accounted for severance under its Pension Plan in accordance with the law. The CCJ judgement emphasized section 194 (1) of the Labour Act and highlights that an employee remains entitled to severance in addition to a pension unless the employer can clearly show that the pension scheme already accounts for severance benefits. Where the pension scheme accounts for severance, as in BEL’s case, the obligation is satisfied by payment of the pension benefits which account for severance.”
BEL goes on to say that it “has consistently met and in most cases exceeded the legal requirements for severance payments to employees providing up to as much as four (4) weeks’ wages for each year of service compared to the legal requirement of one week for each year of service before 2011.” The company’s legal review continues and it assures those affected that they will be issued responses “progressively” as each claim is thoroughly reviewed.
The members of the Belize Energy Workers for Justice (BEWJ) complained on the record during Tuesday’s press conference that their letter to BEL management has been delayed in response time and that they were latest promised a response by April 20.
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By Aaron Humes: Belize Electricity Limited (BEL) is maintaining that in relation to former employees asking for severance on the basis of the November 5, 2025 Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) ruling, they have been paid their severance under the company’s pension plan since at least 2007. BEL acknowledged that claims had been submitted following
The post Belize Electricity Limited: We have accounted for severance to former employees under pension plan appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
