By: Omar Silva

Editor/Publisher: National Perspective Bz – Digital 2025

www.nationalperspectivebz.com

Belize City: Tuesday, 18 February 2025

With just weeks remaining before the 2025 General Election, the People's United Party (PUP) government has rolled out a flashy new initiative to "upgrade" Belize’s Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) sector under a Global Digital Strategy. At first glance, this might seem like a step toward economic transformation—but upon closer examination, it appears to be little more than a last-minute election gimmick designed to mislead voters into believing the government has a viable plan for job creation and economic growth.

Why Announce This Now?

The timing of this announcement raises serious questions about the government’s true intentions. If the PUP was genuinely committed to improving the BPO sector, why wait until the eve of the elections? Why not introduce this strategy years ago, when they had ample time to implement policies that could truly benefit Belizean workers?

Instead, the government is scrambling to create a positive economic narrative at a time when public dissatisfaction is rising due to increasing costs of living, stagnant wages, and widespread concerns about governance.

The Political Motive Behind This Narrative

The PUP's sudden push to upgrade the BPO sector is not about creating better-paying jobs—it’s about securing votes. Here’s how:

1. Desperate for an Economic Success Story

• After failing to deliver significant economic transformation since 2020, the PUP government is under pressure to show progress.
• With rising fuel prices, food costs, and rent, Belizeans are struggling, and the government needs a positive economic headline before voters head to the polls.

2. Targeting Young Voters

• The BPO sector employs thousands of young Belizeans, many of whom are undecided or first-time voters.
• By promising a digital revolution, the PUP hopes to convince young workers that they are committed to economic growth—even though wages in the sector remain well below international standards.

3. Avoiding Hard Questions on Wage Growth

• The announcement conveniently ignores the fact that BPO workers in Belize earn significantly less than their counterparts in other countries.
• The PUP has not introduced any minimum wage requirements for the BPO industry, meaning that despite this ‘upgrade,’ many employees will continue to struggle to afford basic necessities.

4. Deflecting From Broader Economic Failures

• Rather than addressing structural economic problems—such as high unemployment, rising debt, and a weakened manufacturing sector—the government is focusing on outsourcing jobs to foreign-controlled industries.
• This strategy creates the illusion of economic progress while failing to generate sustainable, high-paying jobs for Belizeans.

5. Appeasing Foreign Investors & International Partners

• The BPO industry is largely foreign-owned, and this announcement sends a message that Belize is committed to keeping wages low and labor cheap.
• Instead of focusing on worker protections and fair salaries, the PUP government is ensuring that multinational corporations continue benefiting at the expense of Belizean laborers.

What This Means for Belizeans

Despite the government’s claims of a BPO "upgrade," nothing in this strategy guarantees better wages, job security, or benefits for workers. In reality, this is nothing more than an election-time publicity stunt to mask the administration’s failure to create real economic opportunities for the people of Belize.

Instead of falling for last-minute election theatrics, voters should demand real answers:

• Where was this strategy three years ago?
• Why are BPO workers still earning wages that barely cover the cost of living?
• Why is the government prioritizing foreign investors over its own workforce?

The truth is that this move is not about economic empowerment—it’s about election survival. Belizeans deserve real, long-term solutions, not pre-election distractions that do nothing to improve their financial well-being.

As the 2025 General Election approaches, the people of Belize must see this announcement for what it is: an act of political desperation, not a genuine effort to uplift the workforce.