Media Release- Minister of Labour appoints Members to the Minimum Wages Board
Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago - Tuesday 28 November 2023
The Minister of Labour, the Honourable Stephen Mc Clashie has appointed the new Minimum Wages Board. This ceremony took place on November 27, 2023 at Ministry of Labour’s Head Office at the International Waterfront Centre in Port of Spain.
The New members include Chairperson Ms. Judith Sobion, Mr. Bryan Rooplal, Mr. Ozzi Warwick, Ms. Knafesa George-Paul, Ms. Sanika Tyson, Ms. Juliana Henry-King, Mr. Douglas Williams and Technical Secretary Mr. Cadell Pierre.
At the Appointment ceremony, the Minister of Labour welcomed new and returning members, and underscored that the last Minimum Wage Board has robustly fulfilled its function, for example with the recommendations which have been instrumental in the timely proclamation of a new Minimum Wages Order, where the Minimum Wage will be raised from $17.50 to $20.50 per hour from January 2024. The Minister reiterated “this 17% increase is most welcomed, and seeks to be fair and balanced, given the variety of considerations, financial and otherwise that had to be taken into account. This increase would impact an estimated 190,000 workers and their families, thereby affording them a better standard of living.”
During the previous Board’s tenure, the following eight (8) items were also among their undertakings:
(1) the Review of the 2019 Minimum Wages Order;
(2) the Domestic Workers Order;
(3) the Impact of COVID-19 on Minimum Wage Earners;
(4) the Wages Regulation/Agricultural Undertakings Order, 1964;
(5) the Catering Industry Order;
(6) the concept of a Living Wage and its applicability in Trinidad and Tobago;
(7) Security Industry Employees Order of 1995; and
(8) Administrative Reports for fiscal 2021 and 2022.
The Board has provided comments and inputs into the Ministry of Labour’s own paper-based Stakeholder Consultation on the Minimum Wages Act, Chapter 88:04, carried out from September 20, 2021 to October 30, 2021. These comments were well received and are being incorporated into the ongoing revision of the Minimum Wages Act.
The new National Minimum Wage will take effect from January 2024.
The Honourable Stephen Mc Clashie, Minister of Labour (centre), flanked by Ms. Natalie Willis (Permanent Secretary) to his left, and joined by other members of the Minimum Wages Board: From L-R: Ms. Sanika Tyson, Ms. Juliana Henry-King, Mr. Oswald Warwick. Back Row: L-R: Mr. Cadelle Pierre, Mr. Douglas Williams and Ms. Knafesa George-Paul.
Missing: Chairperson, Ms. Judith Sobion and board member Mr. Bryan Rooplal (due to prior commitments)
For further information please contact the Corporate Communications Unit: Tel: 625-8478 Ext. 1203,1509,1208 or email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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