Module 1 · Industrial Relations Act, Chap. 88:01
Industrial Relations Act
Union recognition, collective bargaining, unfair dismissal and the Industrial Court.
The Industrial Relations Act is the main statute governing relations between employers, workers and trade unions in Trinidad and Tobago. It sets out how a union becomes the recognised majority union, how collective agreements are negotiated and registered, and how trade disputes are resolved.
What it governs
- Certification of a recognised majority union by the Registration, Recognition and Certification Board
- The duty to bargain in good faith with a recognised union
- Reporting of trade disputes to the Minister of Labour for conciliation
- Referral of unresolved disputes to the Industrial Court
- Protection of workers from dismissal that is harsh and oppressive or not in accordance with good industrial relations practice
The Industrial Court is a court of equity and good conscience. It is not limited to the strict terms of the contract; it looks at whether the employer acted fairly. In a dismissal dispute the employer must show a genuine, fair reason and a fair procedure.
Record this risk in the Employer Self-Assessment
Related legislation
- Retrenchment and Severance Benefits Act, Chap. 88:13
- Trade Unions Act, Chap. 88:02
Last reviewed: October 2026
General guidance only, not legal advice.