- In Belize, 35.5% of people outside the labor force cite caregiving as their main reason for not working, and 89.5% of them are women.
- Childcare costs families US$75 to US$100 per week per child, more than 70% of the weekly minimum wage, making it unaffordable for many low-income households.
- A new IDB-financed program expands access to quality childcare, supports caregiver training, and helps mothers cover childcare costs while participating in job training.
In Belize, gaps in labor force participation between women and men persist: while seven out of ten men participate in the labor market, fewer than half of women do. In addition, women make up two thirds of all people who are not in the labor market.
Factors such as education or the availability of job opportunities can influence this gap. However, there is a key element that runs through the experience of many families and often goes unnoticed: caregiving responsibilities.
In Belize, 35.5% of people outside the labor force cite caregiving responsibilities as the main reason for not participating in the labor market. Within this group, women accounted for 89.5%.
In response, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) approved a loan aimed at expanding access to quality care services for young children, strengthening the training of those who provide them, and reducing the structural barriers that limit women's labor force participation and skills development.
Access to childcare services is a relevant factor for women's labor force participation. And not only for mothers: sometimes it is a grandmother, an aunt, or a neighbor who helps with caregiving responsibilities. However, the availability of affordable care options in Belize remains limited: in 2024, 42% of children between the ages of 3 and 5 attended some early education or childcare program.
This share, in turn, reflects differences based on where people live and household income level. While a higher proportion of children in higher-income households or urban areas access these services, participation is much lower in lower-income households.
The cost of childcare is one of the central factors behind these difficulties. In Belize, families spend between US$75 and US$100 per week per child to access these services, in addition to the extra costs associated with food. This is equivalent to roughly more than 70% of the weekly minimum wage. For many households, especially those with low incomes, this makes formal childcare an unviable option.
The consequences are manifold: many women reduce their work hours, postpone their job search, or are excluded from job training programs, while children miss out on the opportunity to develop in environments that foster learning and well-being from early childhood.
Against this backdrop, the program is based on a clear premise: expanding access to women's employment requires strengthening caregiving conditions.
On the one hand, the program supports the training and certification of caregivers, with an emphasis on the care of young children and on attention to those with disabilities—an area where demand is growing and opportunities for specialized training are still limited. By strengthening the capacities of those who work in care, the program seeks to improve the quality of available services and respond to real needs identified together with the care centers themselves.
On the other hand, the program includes financial support for mothers who participate in job training, so they can cover the costs associated with caring for their children while they train. This measure aims to remove a common barrier: even when training opportunities exist, many women cannot take advantage of them if they do not have childcare solutions during that time.
These actions are complemented by the commitment of the Ministry of Human Development, Families, and Indigenous Peoples' Affairs to continue strengthening the accessibility, quality, and regulation of childcare services. The measures include developing operational standards and certification processes for early childhood centers, collaborating with employers to promote safe care spaces in workplaces, and expanding the supply of free daycare, including in rural areas.
Belize continues to make progress in strengthening its institutional framework and public policies on care and early childhood development. Moving toward more accessible, higher-quality systems helps lay a more solid foundation for the country's development, expand employment opportunities, and improve outcomes for children from their earliest years.
Access the program document at the following link.