Minimum wage is T&T now stands at $12.50/hour, up from $9/hour

File Photo: Labour Day march in Fyzabad

The new minimum wage in Trinidad and Tobago is $12.50 an hour and anyone who breaches The Minimum Wages Order 2010 which took effect on Saturday faces still penalties.

Minister of Labour Errol McLeod announced the change from $9 an hour during his budget presentation last year. The change affects a whole range of workers including gas station attendants, persons in the catering industry, shop assistants, security personnel and household assistants.

However there are some exclusions:

• trainees in training schools approved by appropriate Government agencies such at the (i) Youth Training and Employment Partnership Programme (YTEPP); or (ii) National Energy Skills Centre
• schemes developed from time to time by other Government ministries, departments or agencies
• other schemes submitted to and approved by the Minister to whom responsibility for labour is assigned
• registered apprentices
• students on vacation jobs
• persons who volunteer services to registered charitable organisations and social services agencies registered with the Ministries responsible for social services, you, sports, community development or gender affairs

The legislation has made it clear that the establishment of $12.50 as the new minimum wage does not mean that persons earning more than that would have their wages reduced.