Trinidad and Tobago teachers report receiving $900M in back pay

Teachers in Trinidad and Tobago have begun reporting that long-delayed back pay for the 2020–2023 period is appearing on the government’s IHIRIS online payroll platform. The payments involve a TT$900 million allocation intended to cover outstanding salary arrears and a five per cent salary increase.

Despite these reports from members, the Trinidad and Tobago Unified Teachers’ Association (TTUTA) stated that it has received no formal notification from the Ministry of Finance or the Ministry of Education confirming that disbursements have commenced. TTUTA President Crystal Ashe noted that the information is currently coming from the membership rather than official government channels.

The dispute has persisted for over a year, following several missed deadlines for payment that were previously expected in July 2025 and January 2026. While the $900 million was earmarked in the 2025 national budget, uncertainty arose after the allocation was removed from revised estimates during the Mid-Year Budget Review. Finance Minister Davendranath Tancoo indicated that a statement regarding this and other issues would be made at Parliament on Wednesday.