Trinidad and Tobago’s labour movement celebrated a pivotal milestone in the nation’s history on Friday with the launch of its first-ever Trade Union Fair, hosted at the Brian Lara Promenade.
President General of the Oilfields Workers’ Trade Union and President of the Joint Trade Union Movement, Ancel Roget, reminded the public of the vital role that the trade union movement plays, particularly in advocating for the rights of workers.
“If ever you think that a group of people who contributed to the development of this country, that that group is relevant, that group is identified as the trade union movement of Trinidad and Tobago, we remain relevant to the economy of Trinidad and Tobago.”
President of the Public Services Association (PSA), Felisha Thomas, issued a call for all vulnerable contract workers to join a trade union, stating that they too have the right to representation.
“Just to say to the general public, just come out, see what the movement is about. A lot of persons, especially contract workers, don’t understand that they too are entitled by law to representation. They ought not to be dissuaded from joining a union. So come out, get the information, reach out to the union within your various workplaces, and ensure that you are represented, you are covered.”
Echoing those sentiments, Minister of Labour and Small Enterprise Development, Leroy Baptiste, said the Government has heard the voices of the vulnerable and is advancing decent work on behalf of citizens. Initiatives include implementing a living wage, a pension plan for daily-rated workers, and the modernisation of the Industrial Relations, Retrenchment and Severance Benefits, and Maternity Protection Acts.
“It includes the fact that we are implementing a national recruitment drive. For the first time, all the vacant contract positions in the Public Dervice are available to all workers — 20,000 jobs put out there. And in phase two, through public-private partnership, we will create an additional 50,000 jobs. Comrades, we are also developing a small and micro-enterprise development policy which promotes decent work, inclusivity, and the formalisation of informal labour.”
Minister Baptiste noted that the Government’s thrust toward the diversification of the economy will ensure sustainable growth and development.
“These are not policies, comrade, they are commitments, and they were shaped in partnership with the trade union movement — we heard your voice. Comrades, as we readily acknowledge, decent work is desirable work, we also must acknowledge that decent work is good work. But this we must also acknowledge, comrades: as defined by the ILO, decent work must be productive work.”
The trade unions showcased their history, achievements, and ongoing efforts to improve the conditions of the working class.