Senior Multimedia Reporter
radhica.sookraj@guardian.co.tt
President general of the Oilfields Workers’ Trade Union (OWTU), Ancel Roget, says the 2026 Budget is being seen as a “rescue mission” for workers.
Speaking to Guardian Media at the OWTU’s Paramount Headquarters in San Fernando yesterday, Roget said the Budget signals a shift toward fairness and protection for workers.
He noted that Finance Minister Davendranath Tancoo had listened to the trade union movement and had given commitments to fill vacancies in critical public service institutions, such as the Occupational Safety and Health Agency (OSHA), which have long suffered from understaffing and limited enforcement capacity.
“There’s the whole question of filling vacancies,” he explained. “The OSHA agency, with all of those inspectors — some on short-term contracts — cannot adequately deliver. This Government is going to address that and bring fairness and equity across the board,” Roget said.
He noted that the move would strengthen workplace safety and ensure that inspectors are properly equipped and accredited to monitor oil platforms and other high-risk environments. “We are working to make sure that they have adequate, competent people as inspectors to make sure that workers are safe while at work,” Roget said.
Beyond occupational safety, Roget said the Government’s focus on labour reform would correct longstanding injustices faced by workers, including the misuse of company law to deny compensation after retrenchment.
He pointed to the Retrenchment and Severance Benefit Act, which the union has long called to strengthen. “Employers had a field day with workers in this country,” he said. “They shut down today and open up the same business with another company under another name tomorrow, and workers go without compensation. This Government is going to address that.”
Roget said the OWTU has already held “extensive discussions” with the Minister of Labour and expects new legislation soon to deal with the right to join a trade union, severance benefits, and contract employment reform.
He described the Budget as a step toward what he called a “rescue mission” for working people. “We have already begun the discussion on national productivity,” he said. “It’s not just about workers working harder, but about addressing traffic, fatigue, management, and workplace systems. We are prepared to make this country more productive.”
On the question of the gradual increase in retirement age to 65, Roget said the details would be examined carefully, but he maintained that “consultation is always necessary.” He noted that relief measures, such as the 10 per cent salary increase and the reduction in fuel prices, showed that “immediate benefits” are reaching workers.
“Reducing the price of super gasoline by one dollar immediately puts more disposable income in people’s pockets.”
He added that the reopening of the Pointe-à-Pierre refinery remained a key priority. “We are waiting with bated breath,” Roget said. “We know we can restart that refinery, and only the former refinery workers can truly make that happen.”
