Christine calls on Agriculture Minister to pay workers their wages
It is with much concern that I seek the media’s attention in exposing the plight of persons employed with the Reforestation Programme which falls under the Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries in receiving their salaries.
For the past three (3) fortnights, close to 100 workers have not been paid their wages; and there seems to be no one who can assist them in resolving this matter. As the M.P. for Cumuto/Manzanilla, I am calling on the Minister of Agriculture Clarence Rambharat to inform the workers when they will be paid wages due to them. I am also calling on the Minister of Labour and Micro-Enterprises Jennifer Baptiste-Primus to step up to the plate and ensure that the labour laws in Trinidad and Tobago are not violated by the PNM government that she is a part of.
A number of employees of the said programme visited my constituency office seeking assistance in obtaining hampers to feed their families. Also, some of the employees who are parents, are concerned that the new school term is just one month away and they do not presently have the means to purchase their children’s school supplies. Many have said that, should the wages not be paid before the new school term, they would not be able to send their children to school.
I am of the firm view that fair work deserved fair wages and as such, these hard working employees of the Reforestation Programme must be paid what is due to them and paid in a timely fashion. In this regard, I am calling on the Minister of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries’ prompt intervention in this matter.