THE ANNOUNCEMENT WAS MADE BY ASSISTANT SECRETARY AT THE DIVISION OF INFRASTRUCTURE, QUARRIES AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT JOEL SAMPSON AT THE TOBAGO HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY POST EXECUTIVE COUNCIL MEDIA BRIEFING ON WEDNESDAY, 8TH JUNE, 2022 ASST. SEC. JOEL SAMPSON SAID THE FOLLOWING:
Increased wages for daily-rated workers under the Unemployment Relief Programme (URP) with effect from July 14th, 2022. There will also be changes to job titles, which will take effect on the same date as the wage increases
. The changes, as announced by Assistant Secretary Sampson, are as follows:
Male, Female and Unskilled labourers will all fall under the category of Unskilled Labourer, with a wage increase from $79 per day to $149 per day.
Trade Assistant II will now be Trade Assistant II, Time Keeper, Environment and Women’s Programme, with a wage increase from $85 per day to $160 per day.
Trade Assistant III will now be Trade Assistant III – Construction Workers. The proposed wage change is from $93 to $156 per day.
Another group referred to as Trade Assistant III will be changed to Trade Assistant III – Time Keeper, with a wage change from $93 to $160 per day.
The new title for Foreman will be Light Equipment Operator, with a wage change from $106 to $156 per day.
Site Foreman to be changed to Site Foreman- Construction Projects. The proposed wage change is from $99 per day to $165 per day.
There are two categories of Charge Hands. One of those areas will be changed to Charge Hand Construction, with a proposed wage change from $181 to $231 per day.
The other category of Charge Hand will change to Circulatory Charge Hand, accompanied by a wage change from $181 per day to $241 per day.
Drivers will maintain this title, but will receive a wage increase from $170 per day to $220 per day.
Tradesmen will maintain this title and receive a wage increase from $166 to $216 per day.
These URP workers will be eligible for the following:
2 weeks’ vacation leave, with pay, annually.
14 days’ sick leave annually.
4 days’ paternity leave at or about the time of delivery each time a spouse gives birth.
3 days’ bereavement leave upon the death of an immediate family member.
14 weeks’ maternity leave, as outlined in the Maternity Protection Act.
Assistant Secretary Sampson stated that the policy guidelines with respect to the changes in benefits will be properly disseminated to all workers. TERANCE BAYNES
The restructuring of the CEPEP programme is ongoing.
Work is also ongoing to improve their benefits.
A draft document is to be formulated by the Programme Coordinator and her team to treat with benefits to the CEPEP workers on the lower level of the organisational structure.
With effect from July 4th, 2022, the wages of the following CEPEP workers will increase:
Unskilled CEPEP workers (from $99.19 per day to $149.19 per day).
Semi-skilled workers (from $145.48 per day to $195.48 per day).
Checkers’ (from $155.39 per day to $205.39 per day).
Foremen (from $165.31 per day to $215.31 per day).
The CEPEP wage bill is $765,449.70. With the proposed increase in wages, that bill is expected to increase to $1.6 million.
