Senior Reporter
dareece.polo@guardian.co.tt
From next year, civil servants may have the benefit of working from their homes as the Government makes strides towards a comprehensive Work-From-Home policy.
Minister of Public Administration Allyson West made the disclosure yesterday, a day after Industrial Court President Deborah Thomas-Felix urged employers to create a blueprint for remote work.
Thomas-Felix made the suggestion as she lamented Trinidad and Tobago’s ongoing heatwave at the opening of the court’s 2023/2024 law term on Tuesday. Speaking after her address, Minister of Labour Stephen McClashie assured that his Cabinet colleague was moving forward with a proposal. Confirming his announcement, West said it should take 12 months to a year to be operationalised.
“We are just about to award the contract to the successful bidder and that person has indicated that it will take six to nine months for them to come up with a policy. So we are hoping that by this time next year, we will be announcing and starting the implementation of the work-from-home policy,” she said.
The minister said eventually, the rest of the public sector will be included and finally, the private sector. She added that while her office works on rolling out the policy, it is slowed by the delayed proclamation of Procurement Legislation. West, however, could not disclose which contractor won the bid or how much the policy would cost the State.
Meanwhile, the Employers’ Consultative Association (ECA) urged business owners to ensure their buildings are up to code amid the ongoing heatwave that began on September 15 and is set to end on September 29.
ECA chairman Keston Nancoo said working from home, which began amid the COVID-19 pandemic, continues in some sectors and will be beneficial amid global warming concerns.
He said this initiative has had a positive effect on productivity.
