A landmark labor ruling has put employers across Belize on notice: workplace rules and due process cannot be ignored. The Essential Services Arbitration Tribunal found that the Central Bank of Belize unfairly dismissed longtime employee Dapheen Bowen after failing to follow the disciplinary procedures in its Collective Bargaining Agreement. Bowen, who spent nearly two decades at the bank, was terminated over disciplinary action tied to a personal social media post, but the Tribunal found she was never properly informed of the complaint or given a fair chance to defend herself. Although the panel ruled that the damaged employment relationship made reinstatement impractical, it awarded Bowen almost twenty-seven thousand dollars in compensation. Bowen is represented by the Christian Workers Union.
Leonora Flowers
Leonora Flowers, President, Christian Workers Union
“Ms. Dapheen, our member, nineteen years employed by the Central Bank, had been wrongfully terminated in a swift decision made by her employer, the Central Bank of Belize, last June 2025. We had indicated to the bank our desire to represent our member. We had indicated to them that, by law, what they were doing was ill-advised, was against the law. From the very beginning, we said that it was a wrongful termination. But because the bank is an essential service which falls under the act, we had to go to the Essential Services Arbitration Tribunal. It took quite a while, fourteen months, we had change during that time. It was an overwhelming amount of time to have a member out there, actually suffering grossly because she was terminated in such a fashion, sent home forthwith and all we could do at that time was give her the support of the union and that she will get justice. I was sitting right here at this desk and it was such a delight to have the tribunal rule in our favor and vindicated all of us who were waiting for that decision, that justice that finally came on August 28th. It says for us that once we rely on the law and we understand what the law is, we can take our time and get there.”
Labor officials say the decision carries a wider warning for employers: disregard negotiated workplace procedures, and the consequences could be costly.
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