There are statutory provisions for notice of dismissal only in case of retrenchment. A minimum written notice of 45 days is required in this case. In other cases, a notice requirement can be determined in the employment contract or collective agreements.
Non-nationals who wish to work in Trinidad and Tobago are required to obtain a work permit. Those entering the country for gainful employment for a period not exceeding 30 days do not need a work permit. Work permits are issued for 1 year and are renewable.
The application for a work permit can be made online or offline. There is also an option for a Group Work Permit Application, where an employer can fill form for hiring 10 or more foreign nationals at once.
Employees in Trinidad and Tobago are entitled to 2 weeks of paid annual leave after they complete 1 year of working. When a public holiday falls during the annual holiday of an employee, they are entitled to 1 additional day of paid leave for every holiday. When an employee becomes sick during their annual leave, they get an additional day of paid leave for every day of sick leave once the sick leave is certified by a medical practitioner. Part-time employees are entitled to annual leave based on a pro-rata basis for the number of hours worked.
The standard working hours are 8 hours per day, exclusive of meal and rest breaks. The working hours during a week must not exceed 40 hours. The normal working day for businesses that schedule employees to work only 4 days in the week shall not exceed 10 hours, exclusive of meal and rest breaks. When an employee continues to work for 2 hours after their normal working day, they shall be entitled to a paid break of no less than 15 minutes and to a further paid break of no less than 20 minutes for every additional 2-hour period.
Different schedules and working hours can be determined by sector or collective agreements.
Pregnant employees are entitled to 14 weeks of paid maternity leave that can be started 6 weeks prior to the expected date of delivery. To be eligible for this leave, employees must be employed with the same employer for over 12 months and must inform their employer of availing this leave at least 8 weeks before the expected date of delivery with a medical certificate. Employees are also entitled to maternity leave with pay when the child dies at birth or any time within 14 weeks. Employees can also take time off for prenatal medical care during their working hours.
Employees are entitled to maternity benefits from the National Insurance Board and pay from their employers. Employers must pay employees 1 month’s leave with full pay and 2 months’ leave with half pay. Employees’ right to maternity leave pay is limited to once every 24 months, commencing at the beginning of maternity leave.
Maternity benefit from National Insurance Board (NIB) is paid to insured employees who are certified as being at least 26 weeks pregnant by a medical practitioner. They must have been employed and paying contributions for 10 out of the previous 13 weeks. The benefit is comprised of a weekly payment of a Maternity Allowance (to a maximum of 14 weeks paid in a lump sum) and a Maternity Grant of TTD 3,750 (Trinidad & Tobago Dollar).
The National Insurance Board first updates the value of all past contributions so they are measured under the 2026 contribution system (16.2%), converting older contributions to their 2026 equivalent based on when they were originally paid. After this conversion, the Board calculates an average weekly contribution rate, which determines the insured person’s earnings class. That earnings class is then used to set the amount of maternity benefit.
In Trinidad and Tobago, the national minimum wage is set by the Order of the Ministry of Labor in accordance with the recommendation from the Minimum Wages Board. No employee must be paid less than the minimum wage. The minimum wage is set to TTD 20.50 (Trinidad and Tobago Dollar) per hour, with effect from January 1, 2024.
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