Workers at the Trinidad and Tobago Electricity Commission (T&TEC) are expected to receive approximately $15 million in outstanding cost-of-living allowance (COLA) payments on overtime earnings, following an announcement by Minister of Public Utilities Barry Padarath.
Speaking during the debate on the Appropriation (Financial Year 2027) Bill in Parliament on Monday, 19 October 2026, Padarath outlined plans to settle outstanding payments owed to active employees represented by the Oilfields Workers’ Trade Union (OWTU).
The payments cover overtime worked between 1 January 2015 and 30 September 2025, addressing an issue that has remained unresolved for more than a decade.
Under the proposed arrangement, the outstanding amount will be paid in two equal instalments, with the first scheduled for 15 December 2026 and the second for 15 January 2027.
Each instalment is expected to total approximately $7.5 million.
Padarath explained that earlier agreements reached during the final quarter of 2025 and the second quarter of 2026 had already addressed outstanding COLA on basic pay for active employees, as well as basic pay and overtime COLA for inactive employees.
However, outstanding COLA on overtime earnings for active OWTU-represented workers remained unresolved.
The minister said discussions with the union took place on 8 September 2026, leading to the proposed payment arrangement.
He also outlined plans to settle outstanding overtime COLA for estate police officers represented by the Estate Police Association (EPA).
Under that separate proposal, payments would be made on 15 January and 15 February 2027, subject to the necessary approvals and the signing of agreements.
The announcement represents another step towards addressing longstanding outstanding payments to employees within Trinidad and Tobago’s electricity sector.