General Employment Information
Minimum Wages
- The National Minimum Wage in Trinidad and Tobago is seventeen dollars and fifty cents ($17.50) per hour.
- A normal workday is eight (8) hours and a normal work week is forty (40) hours.
- Employees who work overtime are entitled to overtime rates.
- Employees who work on public holidays and off days are entitled to be paid double time rates.
- Employees are entitled to a meal break during the workday.
- Employers are required to keep records to show compliance with the Minimum Wages orders.
Maternity Protection
- A pregnant worker is entitled to fourteen (14) weeks maternity leave.
- Her employer is obligated to pay her one (1) month full pay and two (2) months half pay during the period of maternity leave.
- A pregnant worker is entitled to reasonable time off from work with pay for pre-natal care.
- A worker is entitled to resume work following her maternity leave.
- An employer is required to keep records to show compliance with the Maternity Protection Act.
Child Labour
- Minimum age for employment is 16 years.
- It is illegal to employ a child under the age of 16 years.
- Employers are required to keep a special register for young person’s between the ages of 16 to 18 years.
Domestic Worker
- A domestic worker is an employee who carries out any or all duties that are part of the normal functioning of a household, such as cooking, cleaning, washing, ironing etc.
- Domestic workers are entitled to two (2) weeks vacation leave and fourteen (14) days sick leave per year.
- Domestic workers must have his/her duties, hours of work and rest periods clearly set out in writing by the employer.
- Employers of domestic workers are required to keep records to show compliance with labour laws.