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.