From assessment to action: Strengthening access to labour justice in Trinidad and Tobago

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad and Tobago (ILO News) – Improving access to labour justice is about more than resolving disputes after they arise. It is about building institutions that can prevent conflict, promote dialogue and deliver fair, timely outcomes that workers and employers can trust. That is the goal of an ongoing partnership between the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the Industrial Court of Trinidad and Tobago that has reached a new milestone with the completion of advanced training in conciliation and mediation for the Court's judicial leadership.

Twenty-five senior officials of the Industrial Court - including 23 judges, the Registrar and the Assistant Registrar - completed a two-day training programme on conciliation/mediation skills from 29 to 30 June 2026. Certificates were presented at the close of the programme, equipping the Court's leadership to transfer knowledge internally and strengthen its capacity to resolve labour disputes more effectively.

The programme, delivered by ILO Specialists Nancy Varela- Social Dialogue and Labour Administration Specialist and Pablo Arellano- Senior Social Dialogue and Labour Relations Specialist, was planned and carried out as a follow up to a comprehensive self-assessment of the Court using a diagnostic tool for labour dispute prevention and resolution institutions in October 2024. The exercise enabled the Court to assess its strengths, identify areas for improvement and agree on a practical roadmap for strengthening its effectiveness.

Among the roadmap's priority recommendations was the development of a training programme in conciliation/mediation skills aimed at strengthening professionalism, one of the guiding principles of effectiveness. These principles are linked to the foundational elements of access to labour justice based on international labour standards. The latest training is therefore an important step in translating that evidence-based action plan into practice.

Strengthening institutions that strengthen social dialogue

Effective labour dispute resolution institutions are fundamental to well-functioning labour markets. When disputes are addressed quickly, fairly and impartially, workers gain better access to justice, employers benefit from greater certainty and industrial relations become more stable. Strong conciliation and mediation services also help preserve employment relationships, reduce costly litigation and create more space for constructive social dialogue.

These objectives align closely with the objectives agreed by ILO Member States in the Strategic Plan 2026–29, which identifies stronger labour administration, labour justice institutions and dispute resolution mechanisms as essential components of inclusive governance of work and renewed social dialogue.

The training programme reflected those broader goals. Sessions explored access to labour justice, international labour standards, conflict dynamics, negotiation strategies, conciliation techniques and practical role-play exercises, enabling participants to strengthen both the technical and interpersonal skills required to facilitate constructive dispute resolution.

Rather than focusing solely on legal procedures, the programme emphasized understanding how workplace conflicts develop, how interests can be reconciled and how skilled conciliation can prevent disputes from escalating into prolonged industrial conflict.

Building a long-term partnership

The workshop also builds on wider ILO engagement with Trinidad and Tobago and the Caribbean on labour dispute resolution. In October 2024, the ILO convened regional dispute resolution institutions for a Caribbean symposium on access to labour justice, creating an opportunity for courts, tribunals and labour administrations to exchange experiences on strengthening dispute resolution systems. The Industrial Court's institutional self-assessment followed immediately afterwards, providing the foundation for the Court's own improvement agenda.

The roadmap developed through that exercise identified actions across a range of institutional priorities, including efficiency, accessibility, professionalism, fairness, accountability and continuous learning. Alongside improvements to case management systems and operating procedures, it recognized investment in staff capabilities as essential to strengthening the Court's long-term effectiveness.

The June 2026 training programme on conciliation/ mediation skills therefore represents a significant milestone in a longer process of institutional strengthening.

"This programme reflects the Industrial Court's commitment to continuous improvement . It builds directly on the work undertaken together in 2024 and demonstrates how institutional self-assessment can translate into practical action that strengthens access to labour justice, social dialogue and dispute prevention. It also provides an opportunity to explore future collaboration, including the development of a Caribbean network of labour dispute resolution institutions that can learn from one another and advance regional cooperation." Nancy Varela, Social Dialogue and Labour Administration Specialist, ILO.

Her Honour Mrs. Heather Seale, President of the Industrial Court of Trinidad and Tobago, welcomed the continuing partnership with the ILO, noting that the Court's mandate as set out in the Industrial Act, extends beyond adjudication to promoting the resolution of disputes through conciliation.

"The Court has long recognised the value of conciliation as an essential part of its mandate. We welcome the ILO's technical support in strengthening these capabilities, which will help us better serve workers, employers and their organizations by resolving disputes more efficiently, fairly and collaboratively while continuing our journey of institutional improvement." Mrs. Heather Seale, President of the Industrial Court of Trinidad and Tobago.

The ILO and the Industrial Court will continue discussions on implementing additional elements of the Court's action plan. They will also explore opportunities to establish a regional network of labour dispute resolution institutions, enabling courts and labour justice bodies across the Caribbean to share expertise, strengthen professional cooperation and advance access to labour justice throughout the region.