Government Policy
The Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago commits itself to give special emphasis to the following Labour objectives:
Labour
- Encouraging proper industrial relations practices and effective democratic Trade Unionism.
- Ensuring that the population is up to date and informed of International labour engagement trends, as a consequence of globalization and the need for Employers and Industry to become more flexible and competitive.
- Providing a clear framework of the rights and responsibilities in the workplace.
- Protecting the health and safety of workers, which will require amendments to the OSHA to deal with the environmental aspects of occupational health and safety.
- Promoting sustainable economic growth.
- A comprehensive and immediate review, in consultation with the trade union movement, of all labour legislation, such as the Industrial Relations Act, Retrenchment & Separation Benefits Act.
- Simplification of the recognition process for Trade Unions.
- Timely settlement of all outstanding public sector wage and salary negotiations.
- Dialogue, regular consultation and interaction with the labour movement on all areas of policy, plans, projects and programmes affecting the rights and interest of workers and Labour generally.
- Ensuring meaningful and active representation by Labour in the decision making process at all levels, in all important Government Committees, State Boards, Task Forces and the like.
- Formulating and implementing a policy on migrant workers.
- Timely revision of Minimum Wage rates, consistent with the cost of living.
- Inclusion of Labour in the Fifth Schedule of the Tobago House of Assembly Act, to give responsibility for industrial relations and labour matters in Tobago to the THA.
- Review and reform the use of contract labour in all sectors.
- Review the appointment process for Judges to the Industrial Court to provide for greater security of tenure.
- Facilitate tripartite engagement between Government, Labour and the Employer, to foster and develop a peaceful, competitive and productive Industrial Relations climate.