In a significant development for Trinidad and Tobago’s healthcare sector, the Public Services Association (PSA) has confirmed that all Regional Health Authority (RHA) employees will receive substantial financial benefits from the recently negotiated compensation package. The breakthrough agreement, finalized on December 2, guarantees a ten percent salary enhancement for healthcare workers across the nation’s regional health authorities.
The PSA, recognized as the majority union for health ministry employees and RHA staff, clarified in its December 10 media release that the comprehensive compensation package encompasses three distinct employee groups: ministry workers stationed at RHAs, public service employees who transitioned to RHAs, and personnel directly hired by the regional authorities. This inclusive approach ensures salary parity throughout the healthcare workforce.
Union president Felisha Thomas emphasized that once the memorandum of agreement (MoA) is formally executed for ministry officers and transferred staff, remaining RHA employees will automatically receive comparable adjustments. The PSA is now preparing to engage with RHA leadership to finalize similar agreements specifically addressing salary increases, allowances, and back pay for transferred workers.
The association has proactively contacted all RHA chief executive officers, urging payment advances from the estimated $3.8 billion in retroactive payments before December 23. The landmark agreement covers bargaining periods from 2014-2016 and 2017-2019, featuring new salary implementations commencing January 2026 alongside retroactive allowances dating back to January 1, 2014.
Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar previously noted that the effective compensation increase reaches approximately 15 percent when incorporating the consolidated Cost of Living Allowance (COLA) for both periods. The settlement represents approximately $420 million in additional annual expenditures alongside the substantial $3.8 billion retroactive payment obligation.