Labour Minister Errol McLeod says there are women and young people employed in the private security industry who are vulnerable to exploitation and abuse. He said such workers needed protection and support. "These are women and men who, like us, seek to earn an honest living to provide for their children and their families," he said. McLeod said there were citizens who deserved nothing less than decent work.
He said he was aware that some employers do not adhere to the law to pay wages and overtime rates to their employees. McLeod delivered the feature address at the private security stakeholder session on the Minimum Wages Act Chapter 88:04 and the Minimum Wages Order 2010 at the Calypso Room, Crowne Plaza in Port-of-Spain yesterday. McLeod said the new minimum wage of $12.50 an hour has not been without challenges. He said some workers were not paid $9 under the former rate and that some employers failed to comply with the provisions in the Minimum Wages Order 2010.
He said: "In addition to this, basic terms and conditions of employment pertaining to areas such as hours of work, overtime and fair and just disciplinary procedures are not adhered to." McLeod said it was no secret that one of the major issues in the private security industry was the 12-hour work shift. He said according to the Minimum Wages Order 2010, there was a requirement to work eight-hour shifts of 40-hours in a seven-day period with at least a day's rest in between shifts. He said it was in keeping with international labour standards. McLeod said while there were no provisions in the law to prevent a 12-hour shift, the Minimum Wages Order 2010 made it clear that the additional four hours should be paid at the relevant overtime rate. He said research conducted throughout the country in the private security sector revealed the main issues were hours of work and payment of overtime. McLeod said: "The security industry in T&T has evolved enormously from the simple security guard in the plantations, estates and railways to more well-organised and lucrative business endeavours."