Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2025, published 114th ILC session (2026)

Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention, 1948 (No. 87) - Trinidad and Tobago (Ratification: 1963)

Articles 2, 3 and 4 of the Convention. Trade Unions Act (TUA) and Industrial Relations Act (IRA). In its previous comments, the Committee requested the Government to amend sections 10, 16(4), 18(1)(d) and 33 of the TUA (trade union registration and cancellation thereof, and financial supervision of trade unions and administration of their funds), as well as sections 59(4)(a), 61(d), 65, 67 and 69 of the IRA (majority required for a strike, recourse to the courts by either party or by the Ministry of Labour to end a strike, and services in which industrial action may be prohibited) so as to bring them into full conformity with the Convention. It noted that draft policy papers for the amendment of the TUA and the IRA were submitted to Cabinet in 2021. The Committee notes the Government’s indication that following a change of government in April 2025, it is envisaged that the papers will need to be resubmitted to Cabinet for consideration. Noting with regret that no concrete developments appear to have occurred since the draft policy papers were submitted to Cabinet in 2021, the Committee urges the Government to take the necessary measures to ensure that the TUA and the IRA are amended without further delay and requests it to provide copies of the laws once adopted.