CPO urges patience as SFC salary process continues

2026-03-20 - 19:26

Chief Personnel Officer Commander Dr Daryl Dindial says he sympathises with workers of the San Fernando City Corporation and is asking for patience as the State proceeds with new salary arrangements. Commander Dr Dindial said the payments arise from Collective Agreements for hourly, daily and weekly-paid employees for the periods January 1 2014 to December 31 2016 and January 1 2017 to December 31 2019. He said the agreements, signed on April 24 2025, mark a step in negotiations but require administrative and procedural steps before implementation. Commander Dr Dindial rejected statements by President General Ermine De Bique-Meade of the Contractors and General Workers Trade Union which linked delays to his office. He said Collective Agreements for daily-rated workers require an additional statutory step before implementation. He said this requirement falls under Sections 44 (2) and 45 of the Industrial Relations Act Chap. 88:01. Commander Dr Dindial said Cabinet ratified the agreements on January 22 2026. He said a request was then made under the Act for non-objection by Minister of Labour, Small and Micro Enterprise Development and for registration at the Industrial Court of Trinidad and Tobago by letter dated January 26 2026. He said he and President General De Bique-Meade held discussions on items requiring review at a meeting on February 26 2026. He said amendments were signed on March 13 2026. Commander Dr Dindial said the amendments were sent to the Ministry of Labour, Small and Micro Enterprise Development on March 16 2026. He said the Ministry completed its review and sent the records to the Industrial Court on March 19 2026. He said completion of the Minister’s statutory step on March 19 allows for the issue of implementation instructions to the Ministry of Rural Development and Local Government and the San Fernando City Corporation. Commander Dr Dindial said the instructions will allow the start of implementation of revised salaries and allowances in consultation with the Ministry of Finance. He said the instructions have been prepared and will be issued on March 23 2026. Commander Dr Dindial said President General De Bique-Meade has been informed of the status and next steps. He repeated his call for patience as the process continues.