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The Trinidad and Tobago Government has allocated funds in its 2027 fiscal budget to address outstanding payments owed to public sector workers, including a proposed cash settlement for part of their wage arrears, according to Finance Minister Davendranath Tancoo. During his presentation of the TT$63.3 billion national budget to Parliament, Tancoo said the Government had made provision for a proposal to pay 40 per cent of outstanding arrears in cash to members of the Public Services Association (PSA). The proposal is based on a recommendation from the Chief Personnel Officer. “In 2027 and based on the Chief Personnel Officer’s proposal to pay 40 per cent of outstanding arrears in cash, we have an allocation in fiscal 2027 to meet this obligation,” Tancoo said, according to a report by the St Kitts and Nevis Observer citing the Caribbean Media Corporation. He added that allocations had also been made for payments involving other trade unions. The minister said TT$252 million had been allocated for the National Union of Government and Federated Workers (NUGFW) for new wage rates and cost-of-living allowances, with a further TT$510 million designated for arrears. The budget also includes TT$44.9 million for arrears owed to the Port of Spain City Corporation and TT$45.4 million for the San Fernando City Corporation. The Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force has been allocated TT$281.8 million for arrears, according to the report. Tancoo said the allocations represented close to TT$2.5 billion being directed towards current and retired public officers. The minister also outlined payments and wage adjustments already made. He said approximately 11,000 teachers benefited from higher salaries from March 2026, alongside the consolidation of their cost-of-living allowance. Their outstanding arrears, valued at approximately TT$688 million, were paid off last month, he said. For daily-rated workers covered by the NUGFW agreement, Tancoo said the Government ratified an agreement providing a 10 per cent wage increase for approximately 20,000 workers, together with TT$510.2 million in arrears. He also said wage negotiations affecting almost 40,000 public sector workers represented by the PSA had commenced, with approximately TT$224.8 million in backpay provided to date and workers placed on higher salaries. Negotiations remain unresolved with several other unions, including the Oilfield Workers’ Trade Union, the Transport and Industrial Workers’ Union, the Trinidad and Tobago Postal Workers’ Union, and the Contractors and General Workers’ Trade Union, which represents workers at several institutions. The announced allocations mark a further step in the Government’s stated effort to address outstanding public sector payments. However, the proposed 40 per cent cash settlement for PSA members remains a proposal, and the report does not specify when individual workers will receive any additional payments.
The Trinidad and Tobago Government has allocated funds in its 2027 fiscal budget to address outstanding payments owed to public sector workers, including a proposed cash settlement for part of their wage arrears, according to Finance Minister Davendranath Tancoo.
During his presentation of the TT$63.3 billion national budget to Parliament, Tancoo said the Government had made provision for a proposal to pay 40 per cent of outstanding arrears in cash to members of the Public Services Association (PSA). The proposal is based on a recommendation from the Chief Personnel Officer.
“In 2027 and based on the Chief Personnel Officer’s proposal to pay 40 per cent of outstanding arrears in cash, we have an allocation in fiscal 2027 to meet this obligation,” Tancoo said, according to a report by the St Kitts and Nevis Observer citing the Caribbean Media Corporation. He added that allocations had also been made for payments involving other trade unions.
The minister said TT$252 million had been allocated for the National Union of Government and Federated Workers (NUGFW) for new wage rates and cost-of-living allowances, with a further TT$510 million designated for arrears. The budget also includes TT$44.9 million for arrears owed to the Port of Spain City Corporation and TT$45.4 million for the San Fernando City Corporation.
The Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force has been allocated TT$281.8 million for arrears, according to the report. Tancoo said the allocations represented close to TT$2.5 billion being directed towards current and retired public officers.
The minister also outlined payments and wage adjustments already made. He said approximately 11,000 teachers benefited from higher salaries from March 2026, alongside the consolidation of their cost-of-living allowance. Their outstanding arrears, valued at approximately TT$688 million, were paid off last month, he said.
For daily-rated workers covered by the NUGFW agreement, Tancoo said the Government ratified an agreement providing a 10 per cent wage increase for approximately 20,000 workers, together with TT$510.2 million in arrears. He also said wage negotiations affecting almost 40,000 public sector workers represented by the PSA had commenced, with approximately TT$224.8 million in backpay provided to date and workers placed on higher salaries.
Negotiations remain unresolved with several other unions, including the Oilfield Workers’ Trade Union, the Transport and Industrial Workers’ Union, the Trinidad and Tobago Postal Workers’ Union, and the Contractors and General Workers’ Trade Union, which represents workers at several institutions.
The announced allocations mark a further step in the Government’s stated effort to address outstanding public sector payments. However, the proposed 40 per cent cash settlement for PSA members remains a proposal, and the report does not specify when individual workers will receive any additional payments.
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