The National Minimum Wage of  Trinidad and Tobago has been increased to $20.50 per hour with effect from January 01, 2024.

Access the brochure here:

See Gazetted Version of the Minimum Wage Order Here:

Read the Media Release on the Increase of the National Minimum Wage of Trinidad and Tobago here:

There are Penalties for Non-Compliance of the Minimum Wage Campaign! For more infomration view the video here:

View the images from the Social Media Campaign here:

View the interview with Paula Achaibar, Labour Inspector II on CNC3 Television on Tuesday 2nd January, 2024 here:

READ HERE

Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago - Monday 11 December 2023

The Ministry of Labour (MOL), through its HIV Workplace Advocacy Unit (HWAU), signed Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) with G4S Secure Solutions (Trinidad) Limited and the Amalgamated Security Services Limited respectively. This MOU Signing took place on Friday, December 1^st 2023 at the Head Office of the Ministry of Labour at the International Waterfront Centre in Port of Spain. This signing was particularly significant given that it took place on World Aids Day 2023.

As leading security firms in the country, both organisations expressed commitment to the national response to HIV and AIDS and mitigating its impact on the workplace. Ms Adele Pereira, Human Resource Director at G4S Secure Solutions (Trinidad) Limited shared the organisation’s intent to continue collaborations with the HWAU to complete their workplace policy and programme on HIV and AIDS, as well as other advocacy efforts. As the 2023 theme demands “Let Communities Lead”, Ms. Pereira vouched for G4S Community’s active and leading role in effectively managing HIV and AIDS.

Mrs. Pamela Hosein, Chief Executive Officer representing the Amalgamated Security Services Limited, commended the Ministry and by extension the Government in leading the HIV response at the workplace level. Mrs. Hosein noted the importance of key players in advocating for human rights, as the Ministry being a lead player, was poised for successful advancements toward eliminating HIV related stigma and discrimination with the support of organisations like Amalgamated Security Services Limited.

As a sector considered to be male dominated, Permanent Secretary Natalie Willis commended the women representing both organisations. Permanent Secretary Willis reiterated the importance of allowing and supporting Communities to Lead as we push towards the Sustainable Development Goal of Ending AIDS by 2030.  

The HIV Workplace Advocacy Unit, in accordance with their mandate, will provide technical support and training to the organisations in the development and implementation of their workplace policy and programmes. Sensitisation sessions, among other advocacy activities, would also be facilitated for staff of the organisations.

The signing of a Memorandum of Understanding formalizes the partnership and seeks to ensure the organizations’ ownership and sustainability of the HIV and AIDS workplace policy and programme; establish procedures to manage HIV and AIDS in the workplace; support efforts to prevent HIV transmission, HIV related stigma and discrimination, encourage care, treatment and support, and inform workers about resources in the community.

Caption: Ms. Natalie Willis, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Labour is joined by from Left to Right: Mrs. Kurlisha Mc Lean-Robert - HIV|AIDS Advocacy Officer, Ministry of Labour; Nicole Bodkin-Clarke - HSE Team Lead, G4S Secure Solutions (Trinidad) Limited; Adele Pereira - Human Resource Director (English Caribbean), G4S Secure Solutions (Trinidad) Limited; Mrs. Pamela Hosein - Chief Executive Officer, Amalgamated Security Services Limited and Murlin Baird - Human Resource Business Partner, G4S Secure Solutions (Trinidad) Limited at the MOU signing between the organisations and the Ministry.

For further information on the National Workplace Policy on HIV and AIDS or the services of the HWAU, contact the HWAU at: 299-0300 Ext. 2011, or 462-5236 or via email at hivadvocacy@gov.tt. 

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Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago -Thursday 25 April 2024

The Tru- Fit Garment Factory Limited and the Caribbean Information and Credit Rating Services Limited (CariCRIS) each signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Ministry of Labour, through its HIV Workplace Advocacy Unit (HWAU). As leading organisations in their respective industries to sign, both expressed commitment to the national response to HIV and AIDS and mitigating its impact on the workplace. This MOU Signing took place on Thursday 11^th April 2024, at the Head Office of the Ministry.

Ms. Samantha Marcelle-Wells, of Human Resources Manager Tru- Fit Garment Factory Limited, the parent company for the Retail Outlet DETOUR, voiced the organisation’s recognition of HIV and AIDS as a workplace issue and the importance of supporting initiatives of the HIV Workplace Advocacy Unit. Ms. Marcelle-Wells said Tru- Fit stands by its principles of integrity, equity and inclusion.

Mr. Dereck Rajack, Chief Executive Officer of CariCRIS showed keen interest in the wok of the HWAU and was pleased to support its initiatives. Both signatories continue to play pivotal roles in their respective organisations as they advocated for workplace policy development and implementation of HIV workplace programmes.

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Labour, Ms. Natalie Willis, commended the organisations on their decision to sign their respective Memorandum of Understanding and noted the unique dynamic of the industries being from the Clothing and Textiles and Financial Industries.

The signing of the Memoranda of Understanding formalises the partnership of the two organisations with the HIV Workplace Advocacy Unit, which in accordance with its mandate, will provide technical support and training to the organisations in the development and implementation of their HIV workplace policy and programmes.

The signing of a Memorandum of Understanding seeks to:

• ensure organizations’ ownership and sustainability of the HIV and AIDS National Workplace Policy and programme;
• establish procedures to manage HIV and AIDS in the workplace;
• support efforts to prevent HIV transmission, HIV related stigma and discrimination;
• encourage care, treatment and support;
• inform workers about resources in the community. 

From Left to Right: Ms Samantha Marcelle-Wells: Human Resource Manager, Tru- Fit Garment Factory Limited and Ministry of Labour’s Permanent Secretary Ms. Natalie Willis. 

From Left to Right: Ms. Kimberly Chan Head, Head, Human Resources & Business Partnerships, Mr. Dereck Rajack, Chief Executive Officer of Caribbean Information and Credit Rating Services Limited (CariCRIS), and Ministry of Labour’s Permanent Secretary Ms. Natalie Willis.

From Left to Right: Ms. Kimberly Chan Head, Head, Human Resources & Business Partnerships, Mr. Dereck Rajack, Chief Executive Officer of Caribbean Information and Credit Rating Services Limited (CariCRIS), Ministry of Labour’s Permanent Secretary Ms. Natalie Willis andMs Samantha Marcelle-Wells: Human Resource Manager, Tru- Fit Garment Factory Limited. 

For further information on the National Workplace Policy on HIV and AIDS and services of the HWAU, contact Ms. Heather Rodney- Manager of the HWAU at: 625-8478 Ext. 2008, or 462-5236 or via email at rodneyh@gov.tt.

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Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago - Thursday 7 December 2023

The Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Planning and Development have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Ministry of Labour committing to sharing data for the establishment of a CARICOM Labour Market Information System. This signing ceremony took place on Friday, 1^st December, 2023 at the Head Office of the Ministry of Labour at the International Waterfront Centre in Port of Spain.

This MOU signals the commitment of the respective Ministries to facilitate effective collaboration and transmission of Labour Market Information (LMI) to the Ministry of Labour to process and upload in the Labour Market Information System.  The MOU is also a commitment towards the production of robust and timely LMI for data users in the region, that is, Governments, technical vocational and tertiary learning institutions, businesses, trade unions and civil society organisations.  Other organisations to become signatory to this MOU include the Ministry of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs; the Ministry of National Security and the National Insurance Board of Trinidad and Tobago.

Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Labour, Ms. Natalie Willis stated that she was honoured to mark this significant milestone in the development of our nation's labour market.  In her remarks, she listed the potential impacts of the collaboration which include the ability of the Regional LMIS to serve as a comprehensive and centralized database, providing accurate and up-to-date information on various aspects of the labour market in CARICOM member states; the pooling of the resources and expertise of multiple data-sharing agencies will ensure that Trinidad and Tobago information which is captured within the Regional LMIS is reliable, comprehensive, and easily accessible and the platform will allow to better facilitate coordination between various stakeholders involved in the labour market, such as training institutions, employers' associations, and trade unions.

In his remarks, Manager, Labour Market Information Unit, Mr. Bruce Spencer, indicated thatthe Regional LMIS platform will not only facilitate labour market analysis but also provide the foundation for monitoring and reporting on employment and labour policies. It will serve as a mechanism to exchange information and coordinate different actors and institutions involved in producing and utilizing labour market information and analysis.  Mr. Spencer also expressed his deepest appreciation to all the data-sharing agencies and the Ministry of Labour for their commitment and collaboration in making this platform a reality.

The CARICOM LMIS Project seeks to strengthen the LMIS in each Member State as well as establish an online platform for LMI at the regional level. As such, the regional LMIS would improve the management of the regime for the movement of skilled labour and it would entail systematic collection of labour market data which would provide for evidence-based decision making as it relates to national and regional policies. This would also allow the development of robust policies in areas such as job creation and job security, at the national and regional level. 

Caption: Ms. Natalie Willis, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Labour (centre) is joined by Ms. Marie Hinds, Permanent Secretary (Ag.) Ministry of Planning and Development, Ms Jacqueline Charles, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, and Mr Wilson Henderson, Temporary Deputy Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education.

From Left to Right Back: Ms Kevar Williams Deputy Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Labour, Mr Justin Joseph, Labour Market Specialist, Ms Sharlene Jaggarnath, Chief Census and Survey Officer, Ministry of Planning and Development, Mr. Steve Jordan Project Development and Implementation Specialist, Ministry of Planning and Development, Mr Bruce Spencer, Head Labour Market Information Unit and Mr. Makesi Salandy Research Assistant (OJT)

For further information on the Labour Market Information System, contact the Labour Market Information Unit at625 8478 Ext. 1202 or 1529 or via email at bruces2@gov.tt orjustinj@gov.tt.

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Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago - Monday 22 April 2023

The Minister of Labour, the Honourable Stephen Mc Clashie has appointed members to Standing National Labour Market Council. This Ceremony took place on Friday 19th April 2024 at the Ministry of Labour’s Head Office at the International Waterfront Centre in Port of Spain.

In his address, the Minister of Labour welcomed new and returning members and proudly highlighted the key achievements of the outgoing Council while expressing his sincere thanks for their notable contributions.

These achievements include but are not limited to:

1. the development of the Labour Market Database of key labour market variables;
2. the production of a Labour Market Analysis Report which included the Working Age Population, Labour Force Participation Rates, Employment and Unemployment / Unemployment Rates
3. the development of new methodologies to revamp the Projections Model which is expected to calculate projections for variables such as Labour Force Participation Rate and Employment;
4.  Preparatory Work for the engagement of a Consultant to conduct primary research on vacancies in the Private and State Enterprises for the Private Sector Job Vacancy Survey. 

In his address to the Council Members, Minister Mc Clashie reiterated that their work was critical as it constitutes the generation of information that will benefit employees, employers and the country at large through Policy development, identification of gaps and strategies on how to fill those gaps. The Minister also assured the new Council that the Ministry’s team and resources remain available to them to assist in realising their mandate.

This newly appointedCouncil is expected to build on the workplan initiated during the 2019-2022 term of the previous Council, towards advancing the development goals of a Labour Market Information System.  The Council’s primary function from since its inception is to plan and oversee improvements in the Labour Market Information System and Labour Exchanges in Trinidad and Tobago. As such, their work is instrumental for the creation and sustainability of a labour market information system that will inform the current and future needs towards building manpower across all sectors of the economy.

The Council is made up of eight members as follows:

Ms Candace Young; Chair of the Council, Mr. Bruce Spencer; Deputy Chair of the Council, and members include Ms. Charmaine Manzano-Antoine, Mr. Christian Mora, Mr Ronald Ramlogan, Ms. Letitia Cox, Dr. Deborah McFee and Mr. Elon Mayo.

Caption: The Honourable Stephen Mc Clashie, Minister of Labour (centre), flanked by Ms. Natalie Willis (Permanent Secretary) to his left, Chair of the National Standing Labour Market Council, Ms. Candace Young on his right and other members of the newly appointed Council.

Caption: Ms. Candace Young, Temp. Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Labour is pictured here receiving her instrument of appointment from the Honourable Stephen Mc Clashie, Minister of Labour.

Caption: Mr. Bruce Spencer, Deputy Chair of the Council receives his instrument of appointment from the Hon. Stephen Mc Clashie, Minister of Labour.

For further information please visit the Ministry’s website at www.labour.gov.tt. Or contact the Corporate Communications Unit: Tel: 625-8478 Ext. 1203,1509,1208 or email: labour-communications@gov.tt. 

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For further information please contact the Corporate Communications Unit: Tel: 625-8478 Ext. 1203, 1509, 1208 or email: labour-communications@gov.tt.

END