Prominent business executive Gary Aboud, CEO of MODE ALIVE, has issued a compelling appeal to the Trinidad and Tobago government, urging comprehensive consultation with private sector stakeholders before implementing proposed workplace reforms. In a January 19 statement, Aboud emphasized that significant labor legislation must be developed through collaborative, evidence-based approaches rather than unilateral implementation.
The proposed reforms, announced by the Prime Minister, encompass substantial changes including paid breastfeeding breaks, enhanced discrimination protections, pregnancy testing prohibitions, guaranteed job reinstatement following parental leave, shifted legal burden of proof onto employers, expanded protections for contract workers, accelerated Industrial Court proceedings, and unlimited maternity benefits. While acknowledging the positive intent behind these measures, Aboud cautioned that without meticulous design and stakeholder input, they risk producing counterproductive outcomes.
Aboud questioned the underlying rationale for what he characterized as a ‘sudden knee-jerk reaction,’ probing whether population decline might be driving the proposals. He identified potential root causes including prohibitive living costs, persistent inflation, rising taxation, limited childcare availability, and overstretched healthcare infrastructure providing maternal and infant care services.
‘The fundamental concern is whether imposing additional obligations on employers without addressing these systemic challenges merely redistributes burden rather than solving core problems,’ Aboud stated. He highlighted the critical distinction between public sector operations, where salaries and benefits derive from public funds, and private enterprises that must generate revenue and manage risk within a competitive economic landscape.
The executive expressed particular concern about the cumulative impact on small and medium-sized businesses, questioning their capacity to absorb the combined financial implications of these measures. He warned that well-intentioned policies might inadvertently discourage the hiring of women of childbearing age due to economic survival considerations rather than discriminatory intent.
Aboud criticized the apparent absence of meaningful consultation with business communities, chambers of commerce, and small enterprise owners who possess crucial operational data and practical insights. He emphasized the particular irony of imposing additional regulatory burdens during economic uncertainty when private sector growth is essential for job creation and treasury sustainability.
Citing MODE ALIVE’s voluntary implementation of extensive benefits including paid paternity leave, extended maternity leave, paid breastfeeding breaks, baby product subsidies, and feminine hygiene support, Aboud demonstrated the company’s commitment to workforce welfare. He clarified these initiatives were adopted voluntarily based on organizational values rather than regulatory compulsion.
The business leader concluded by advocating for balanced policymaking that harmonizes social progress with economic realism, insisting that legislation of this magnitude must be developed through partnership with those responsible for implementation and funding.