Minister of Labour Stephen Mc Clashie is committing to robust policies, training opportunities and public education to promote the rights and responsibilities of employers and employees.
In his message for Labour Day, Mc Clashie said the ministry will continue to do its part in maintaining a peaceful industrial climate while upholding its principles of decent work, industrial peace and opportunity for all. He also appealed for stakeholders to work together.
“I believe that in order for us to maintain the tenets upon which the decent work agenda is built, it is imperative that we collectively leave the door open to engage in continued social dialogue which is the very spirit of tripartism. I firmly believe that through dialogue, we will eventually find a common space where we can all exist,” he said.
“I wish to reiterate that as a nation, in order to make significant strides towards decent work, there must be a collective effort comprised of labour, government and business representatives. In this regard, the National Tripartite Advisory Council (NTAC), is being reviewed towards making its internal arrangement more formal.”
Highlighting some of the Ministry’s achievements over the last year and some of its ongoing work, Mc Clashie said there were 31 reports of breakdown in negotiations of which 13 were partially resolved, eight were fully resolved, and ten are ongoing. He said these were among 161 trade disputes settled by the ministry’s Conciliation Advocacy and Advisory Division (CAAD). He said the CAAD, on a weekly basis, provides mediation services.
For the year to May, labour inspectors received 151 complaints and conducted 374 inspection visits to establishments.
“They were successful in recovering $173,991.62 in arrears for minimum wage workers in Trinidad. The arrears were collected on behalf of the workers based on non-payment of the national minimum wage, overtime pay, paid sick leave, pay for public holidays or for vacation leave. Labour inspectors also collected $34,080.00 on behalf of workers pertaining to maternity leave benefits from their Employers and for the months January and April, 2023, $30789.00 was collected in arrears in Tobago,” he said.
Mc Clashie said four new trade unions have registered with the ministry since last July bringing the total of unions in the country up to 84. These new collective bargaining units are Legacy Workers Trade Union, Prudent Caribbean Worker’s Trade Union, Workers and Human Rights Association of T&T and Generation, Administrative and Athletic Workers Union.
In addition, the Sexual Harassment Bill is before the Attorney General, while the OSH Act, Industrial Relations Act and the Trade Unions Act are currently before the Cabinet.
The minister said there are also legislation under review, including the Legislation for the Prevention and Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labour, Trade Disputes and Protection of Property Act, Workmen’s Compensation (Transfer of Funds) Act and the Truck Act.
Mc Clashie said divisions and units at the ministry are working with stakeholders to develop and implement policies to address labour migration, child labour and the modernisation of a labour market information system.