VZCZCXRO0673
RR RUEHGR
DE RUEHSP #0119 0241947
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 241947Z JAN 06
FM AMEMBASSY PORT OF SPAIN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 6321
INFO RUCNCOM/EC CARICOM COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS PORT OF SPAIN 000119 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR WHA/CAR 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ELAB PGOV TD
SUBJECT:  TRINIDAD'S (AMENDED) OSHA NEARS 
IMPLEMENTATION 
 
REF: A.  PORT OF SPAIN 00073 
 
¶B.  PORT OF SPAIN 00074 
 
¶1.  The long-delayed Occupational Safety and Health Act 
came one step closer to implementation with passage of 
a package of amendments by the lower house of 
Parliament on January 23.  The upper house is slated to 
debate the bill, as amended, on January 26, keeping it 
on track for implementation by February 17, as promised 
by the Prime Minister.  United National Congress (UNC) 
Members of Parliament criticized the People's National 
Movement (PNM) for unnecessarily delaying 
implementation of the bill with insignificant 
amendments. 
 
¶2.  As reported in ref B, most of the amendments simply 
exchange one set of concerns for another.  Other 
amendments simply reorder sections of the act.  Some of 
the more significant revisions require all places of 
employment to conduct a risk assessment that will 
dictate how certain safety items, to include 
ambulances, are deployed.  Other revisions shorten the 
length of time that inspectors have to rule on the 
safety of proposed plans, and others reduce the amount 
of time businesses have to come into compliance with 
regulations.  Another somewhat controversial amendment, 
at least with many of the labor unions, reduces 
penalties for many violations to TT $20,000 (USD 
$3,200) by placing them under the general rubric of 
"health and safety violations."  The labor unions 
maintain that this fine is insufficient to have a 
deterrent effect on corporate irresponsibility. 
 
¶3.  COMMENT:  The Senate will likely pass the OSHA 
amendments on Thursday, finally putting this long- 
standing issue to rest.  Next on the labor movement's 
agenda is passage of a new workers' compensation bill 
to complement the OSHA.  Apparently the Ministry of 
Labor agreed to make the compensation bill a priority 
in return for union agreement on some of the OSHA 
amendments.  During the debate on OSHA, Labor Minister 
Montano announced that a compensation bill was being 
studied in the Ministry, for passage in March.  END 
COMMENT. 
 
 
AUSTIN