Activist: Some migrants still being paid less than minimum wage

BY Melissa Maynard

melissa.maynard@trinidadexpress.com

ANUMBER of working migrants are yet to see the new minimum wage of $20.50 an hour reflected in their salaries.

Weekly paid employees say they fear that they may not see any increase at all, as no word has come from their employers.

Checks by Express Business across various sectors of minimum wage earners saw mixed responses from migrant workers.

While some confirmed that they are receiving the increased rate and above, others shared that they are either still working for the old minimum wage of $17.50 or less.

An Venezuelan employee of a food outlet in East Trinidad for the past three years disclosed that she currently works for $156. for a 12-hour shift.

While another, also a Venezuelan national, in a retail store in Port of Spain confirmed that the old minimum wage for a 12hour shift is still being paid. Another employee in Chaguanas, working at an establishment for four years also stated that he is receiving $18 an hour: all workers are weekly paid and wished not to be named. The increased minimum wage took effect from January 1, 2024.

Migrants, particularly those who are unregistered run the risk of being paid below the minimum wage, said director of La Casita Hispanic Cultural Centre Andreina Briceño Brown.

The Ministry of Labour has maintained that the increase in the minimum wage applies to all workers including both documented and undocumented migrants in the country. The ministry also noted that businesses that do not pay the new wage of $20.50 will be held accountable.

'We have people who are definitely working below minimum wage,' Briceño Brown confirmed in a recent interview with Express Business. She noted that she has been making checks to ensure migrants are aware of the increase and are receiving such.

According to Briceño Brown, migrants who are here illegally run a greater risk of not receiving the minimum wage. She said this situation has been of great concern for her organisation, which would have received reports of such incidents before the new wage increased.

However, she noted that she is monitoring the situation to ensure that employers with a large migrant base are paying workers at the new rate.

Based in Arima, La Casita Hispanic Cultural Centre supports migrants from various countries. The Centre is a refugee and migrant- led community-based organisation that provides information, support services, and case management for survivors of gender-based violence (GBV) and by extension advocate for the migrant community. La Casita also emphasises community engagement through cultural and social activities.

Vulnerable groups

Briceño Brown assured that a large number of workers do receive the minimum wage but lamented a segment of the population do not. Vulnerable groups, she said, also endure unfortunate situations where employers deduct National Insurance contributions (NIS) from migrants who are not eligible to pay NIS as they are not afforded the benefits.

Though the Ministry of Labour has been publicising that any employee can report employers who fail to adhere to the law, workers admitted they are fearful to make such reports for the fear of losing their jobs and with no redress.

Inspector II at the Ministry of Labour Paula Achaibar confirmed earlier this month on TV6's Morning Edition programme that the Minimum Wages Act protects workers against victimisation.

Yet this assurance did not allay the fears felt by some workers who told Express Business they are worried about repercussions should they report the incident.

New Changes

Briceño Brown, said her organisation has activated an awareness campaign within the migrant population to inform them of the new changes. She indicated her organisation is also disseminating information sent out by the Ministry of Labour.

Briceño Brown noted that there is a network of migrants who help each other out by updating and informing one another of the pay grade for various jobs.

The Ministry of Labour on its Facebook page has stated that no worker including migrant workers, should be paid less than $20.50 per hour. It also highlighted that employers who do not comply with the Minimum Wage Labour Laws can face penalties. According to the ministry, businesses can be fined $15,000 for non-compliance, which includes paying under the minimum wage, failure to keep records and unauthorised deductions.

Express Business reached out to a popular business that has a large migrant workforce but officials wished not to be named. A manager confirmed that the establishment has already started paying employees the increased wage, adding that even before the new wage, workers were paid above the previous minimum wage.

The manager claimed that having to increase the minimum wage did not pose any issue for the company, stating 'it must be done not just by law but for the benefit of the employees and at the end of the day everything is increasing through the country, so we need to keep that in mind for the sake of the employee.'

Asked about the reason for the large migrant work base, the manager indicated that both locals and migrants are hired but the company tends to have a larger migrant base because locals are less inclined to stay and grow in the company.

Express Business also reached out to the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), and was referred to an excerpt from its 2022 Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM), noting that the 'data highlighted a few instances of unfair wages, nonpayment and performance of work against the individual's will, which could be indicative of human trafficking'.

The data revealed that 'approximately 30% of the interviewees who were employed at the time of the survey worked in the informal sector. Similarly, an assessment of salaries, rated either hourly or monthly, indicated that 12% of the respondents working in the formal sector and 31% of the respondents working in the informal sector were underpaid, as they reportedly received less than Trinidad and Tobago's minimum wages. Notwithstanding this, 59% of the employed interviewees did not consider their wages to be fair, with 30% of them working in commerce, 16% in the construction sector, 13% in domestic work and 12% in tourism and hospitality.'

While attempts to reach the Minister of Labour for a comment proved futile, questions sent to the ministry's communication unit was awaiting approval, Express Business was told.

The public is reminded that anyone falling victim of being paid under the minimum wage can make a report at the Ministry of Labour, by visiting the ministry's offices at Duke Street, Port of Spain, or St James Street, San Fernando, Tam Building, Glen Road, Scarborough, Tobago or call 299-0300, extension three for Port of Spain and 285-5133 extension four for San Fernando, 387-0856 for Tobago or visit its website at www.labour.gov.tt.

FLASHBACK: Venenzuelan migrants, who were registered under the Migration Registration Framework, wait to collect their permit extensions outside the Enforcement Unit, Immigration Division, Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago (26, September 2023).

Director of La Casita Hispanic Cultural Centre Andreina Briceño Brown.