Minimum Wages Act

Minimum wages cannot be set by :-

• Statute

• Competent Authority

• A wage board

• Labour Court

• Employer

Minimum wages can also be set by giving the force of law to provisions of collective agreements.

• True

• False

The ILO defines the minimum wage as-The maximum amount of remuneration that an employer is required to pay wage earners for the work performed during a given period, which cannot be reduced by collective agreement or an individual contract

• True

• False

Answer explanation

The "minimum" amount of remuneration that an employer is required to pay wage earners for the work performed during a given period, which cannot be reduced by collective agreement or an individual contract

In Trinidad and Tobago, the Chief Labour Officer sets the Minimum Wage

• True

• False

Answer explanation

•3. (1) The Minister may by Order (hereinafter called a “Minimum Wage Order”) fix minimum wages and terms and conditions of service for any class of workers generally or for any class of workers in a particular industry or undertaking or where satisfied that it is necessary to do so, fix a national minimum wage applicable to workers generally.

Under Section 14 of the Minimum Wages Act, the Board shall consider:-

• General Wages

• Cost of Living

• Contributions payable and benefits

• Other Economic Factors

• All of the above

Under Section 20 of the Minimum Wages Act "The employer of every worker to whom a Minimum Wage Order applies shall keep and maintain such records in respect of that worker as may be necessary to show whether or not the provisions of the Order are being complied with in respect of that worker and unless seized and taken away by an authorised officer under the provisions of section 22(1) such records shall be retained by the employer for a period of two years”

• True

• False

Answer explanation

Three years

The Minister  does not have the power to inspect, nor the powers of entry

• True

• False

Answer explanation

•21.  The Minister may authorise in writing any officer in his Ministry (referred to below as an “ authorised officer” ) to require any employer or any person authorised by any employer, except a person engaged in a confidential, professional relationship with such employer—

•(a)  to give him information with respect to remuneration paid to and terms and conditions of service enjoyed by workers, in respect of whom a Minimum Wages Order applies, in the service of that employer;

•(b)  to permit him to inspect any records or paysheets relating to such workers;

 (c)  to permit him to interview workers in respect of whom a Minimum Wages Order applies, with respect to the remuneration received and the terms and conditions of service enjoyed

The current minimum wage is $17:50

• True

• False

A trade dispute can be reported to the Minister of Labour under Section 22 B of the Minimum Wages Act

• True

• False

Any person who in furnishing any particulars for the purposes of this Act makes any statement which he knows to be misleading false or deceptive, or by any dishonest concealment of material facts or by the reckless making of any statement, dishonestly or otherwise, misleads or attempts to mislead an other person, is liable on determination by the Industrial Court to a fine of 20 thousand dollars.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

Section 23-Any person who in furnishing any particulars for the purposes of this Act makes any statement which he knows to be misleading false or deceptive, or by any dishonest concealment of material facts or by the reckless making of any statement, dishonestly or otherwise, misleads or attempts to mislead an other person, is liable on determination by the Industrial Court to a fine of ten thousand dollars.