Trinidad and Tobago teachers receive delayed back pay
Summary and headline written by AI from the source article. How we work
Teachers in Trinidad and Tobago began receiving TT$900 million in back pay for the 2020 to 2023 period after over a year of dispute with the Government.
The Trinidad and Tobago Unified Teachers’ Association (TTUTA) reported on September 12, 2026, that members saw the payments reflected on the IHIRIS online payroll platform.
This development follows repeated delays, as teachers initially expected the money in January 2026, then July 2026, and later faced the possibility of waiting until the 2027 fiscal year. TTUTA had been seeking clarification from the Ministries of Finance and Education, as the $900 million allocation appeared to have been removed from a budget review. While Chief Personnel Officer Daryl Dindial indicated payments would occur in September, TTUTA president Crystal Ashe remained cautious due to previous unfulfilled assurances.
The union attributes the payments to sustained advocacy and pressure. However, neither the Ministry of Finance nor the Ministry of Education has formally confirmed the disbursements. Finance Minister Davendranath Tancoo plans to address the matter in Parliament on September 16. TTUTA continues to negotiate with the Government on issues beyond pay, including school infrastructure and support programs.
