Event Summary
On 19 June 2025, during Labour Day commemorations, Trinidad and Tobago’s Minister of Labour, Leroy Baptiste, announced the government’s intention to re-establish the National Tripartite Advisory Council (NTAC), a consultative body comprising government, business, and labour unions. Created in 2016 to foster social dialogue, NTAC became dormant after major unions — including the National Trade Union Centre (NATUC), the Joint Trade Union Movement (JTUM), and the Federation of Independent Trade Unions and Non-Governmental Organisations (FITUN) — withdrew in 2021 citing ineffectiveness.
The pledge, part of a broader “Workers’ Agenda,” includes guaranteeing union representation on statutory boards, and a commitment to modernize labour laws.
If implemented transparently and inclusively, the revival of NTAC could mark a structural improvement in the enabling environment, moving civil society participation beyond ad hoc consultations toward a formal and recurring platform for policy dialogue. This could help institutionalize engagement between the state, labour federations such as NATUC, JTUM, and FITUN, and potentially a wider range of CSOs. By rebuilding trust with organized labour, NTAC has the potential to shift civil society’s role from peripheral to institutional, enhance government responsiveness, and increase civil society’s legitimacy and influence in shaping labour, social, and economic reforms.
Skepticism remains high given NTAC’s past failures, and the real impact will depend on whether this new iteration functions consistently and delivers meaningful dialogue. Still, if momentum is sustained, NTAC’s revival could set a precedent for broader participatory reforms and more accountable governance in Trinidad and Tobago.