
Lucas Botzen
Founder & Managing Director
Last updated:
September 21, 2025
What is an Employer of Record in Trinidad and Tobago?
View our Employer of Record servicesAn Employer of Record, or EOR, is a company that legally hires employees on your behalf in Trinidad and Tobago. This means you can build a team in the country without setting up a local entity. An EOR handles all the legal and administrative tasks that come with employment. They take care of everything from hiring and contracts to payroll and taxes, ensuring you comply with local labor laws. This allows you to focus on your business while the EOR manages the complexities of local employment. For companies looking to hire in Trinidad and Tobago, a provider like Rivermate can simplify the process.
How an Employer of Record (EOR) Works in Trinidad and Tobago
Using an EOR in Trinidad and Tobago is a straightforward process. Here’s how it generally works:
- You find the talent. You identify the person you want to hire in Trinidad and Tobago.
- The EOR hires them. The EOR legally employs the individual on your behalf, drafting a compliant employment contract.
- Onboarding begins. The EOR manages the onboarding process, making sure all necessary paperwork is completed.
- Payroll and benefits are handled. The EOR takes care of salary payments, tax withholdings, and employee benefits. This includes managing contributions to the National Insurance System.
- Compliance is ensured. The EOR ensures that all local labor laws and regulations are met, reducing your risk.
- You manage your employee. While the EOR handles the legal and administrative side, you manage your employee's day-to-day work and responsibilities.
Benefits of Using an EOR for Hiring in Trinidad and Tobago
Using an EOR to hire in Trinidad and Tobago offers several advantages. It simplifies your expansion into a new market and allows you to build a team quickly and efficiently. By partnering with an EOR, you can avoid the time and expense of establishing a legal entity in the country. This means you can onboard new talent faster and with less administrative burden.
Here are some of the key benefits:
- Speed up your hiring process. Onboard new employees in a fraction of the time it would take to set up a local company.
- Ensure legal compliance. EORs have local expertise and keep up with changing labor laws, so you don't have to.
- Reduce costs. Avoid the significant expenses associated with establishing a legal entity in Trinidad and Tobago.
- Focus on your business. With the EOR handling HR and administrative tasks, you can concentrate on growing your business.
- Access to local expertise. Benefit from the EOR's knowledge of local customs, regulations, and benefits expectations.
Responsibilities of an Employer of Record
As an Employer of Record in Trinidad and Tobago, Rivermate is responsible for:
- Creating and managing the employment contracts
- Running the monthly payroll
- Providing local and global benefits
- Ensuring 100% local compliance
- Providing local HR support
Responsibilities of the company that hires the employee
As the company that hires the employee through the Employer of Record, you are responsible for:
- Day-to-day management of the employee
- Work assignments
- Performance management
- Training and development
Costs of using an Employer of Record in Trinidad and Tobago
Rivermate's transparent pricing model eliminates complexity with a single, competitive monthly fee per employee. Unlike traditional PEO providers, our pricing in Trinidad and Tobago includes comprehensive HR support, benefits administration, compliance management, and access to our proprietary dashboard for real-time workforce analytics. No hidden costs, no setup fees—just straightforward pricing that scales with your business needs while ensuring full legal compliance in Trinidad and Tobago.
Employ top talent in Trinidad and Tobago through our Employer of Record service
Book a call with our EOR experts to learn more about how we can help you in Trinidad and Tobago







Book a call with our EOR experts to learn more about how we can help you in Trinidad and Tobago.
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Hiring in Trinidad and Tobago
Hiring in Trinidad and Tobago comes with its own set of rules and cultural norms. The energy sector is a major player, but opportunities exist across various industries. To hire compliantly, you need to understand the local labor laws. This guide will walk you through the key aspects of hiring in this Caribbean nation.
Employment contracts & must-have clauses
While you can have a verbal employment agreement in Trinidad and Tobago, a written contract is always the best approach. It provides clarity for both you and your employee. A strong contract helps prevent future disputes.
Your employment contracts should include these essential clauses:
- Identification of Parties: Full legal names and addresses of the employer and employee.
- Job Title and Description: A clear outline of the role and responsibilities.
- Start Date: The official first day of employment.
- Compensation: Details on salary, payment frequency, and method.
- Working Hours: Standard hours of work and any overtime provisions.
- Leave Entitlements: Information on vacation, sick leave, and other types of leave.
- Probationary Period: If applicable, the length and terms of the probation period.
- Termination Clause: Conditions and notice periods for ending the employment relationship.
- Confidentiality: The employee's obligation to protect company information.
- Governing Law: A statement that the contract is governed by the laws of Trinidad and Tobago.
Probation periods
It is common to include a probationary period in your employment contracts. This allows you to assess a new hire's suitability for the role. There is no legally mandated maximum duration for probation, but it typically ranges from three to six months.
During probation, you can have a shorter notice period for termination, but it must be reasonable.
Working hours & overtime
The standard work week in Trinidad and Tobago is 40 hours, typically eight hours a day for five days. Any work done beyond these standard hours is considered overtime.
Here's how overtime pay is typically handled:
When Overtime is Worked | Overtime Pay Rate |
---|---|
Weekdays | 1.5 times the regular hourly rate |
Sundays and Public Holidays | 2.0 times the regular hourly rate |
You must keep accurate records of all hours worked by your employees, including standard and overtime hours.
Public & regional holidays
Employees in Trinidad and Tobago are entitled to paid time off for public holidays. If an employee works on a public holiday, they are generally entitled to double their regular pay rate.
Here is a list of the official public holidays in Trinidad and Tobago:
- New Year's Day
- Spiritual Baptist/Shouter Liberation Day
- Good Friday
- Easter Monday
- Eid al-Fitr
- Indian Arrival Day
- Corpus Christi
- Labour Day
- Emancipation Day
- Independence Day
- Republic Day
- Divali
- Christmas Day
- Boxing Day
Hiring contractors in Trinidad and Tobago
You can also hire independent contractors for specific projects or specialized skills. This offers flexibility and can be more cost-effective since you do not have to provide benefits like paid leave or health insurance.
However, you must correctly classify your workers. Misclassifying an employee as an independent contractor can lead to significant penalties, including back taxes and fines.
Here are some key differences between an employee and an independent contractor:
Factor | Employee | Independent Contractor |
---|---|---|
Control | The company directs how and when work is done. | The worker controls their own methods and schedule. |
Integration | The work is a core part of the company's business. | The service is distinct from the company's core operations. |
Financial Dependence | Relies on one company for income. | Works for multiple clients. |
Tools & Equipment | Provided by the company. | Uses their own tools and equipment. |
An Employer of Record (EOR) can help you mitigate the risks of misclassification. An EOR can help you hire and pay contractors compliantly, ensuring that you adhere to local labor laws. This allows you to focus on your business while the EOR handles the legal and administrative complexities of hiring in Trinidad and Tobago.
Compensation and Payroll in Trinidad and Tobago
Paying your team in Trinidad and Tobago is straightforward. The country has a clear system for payroll and compensation. You'll find that the laws are designed to be fair to both you and your employees. This guide will walk you through the key things you need to know.
Payroll cycles & wage structure
In Trinidad and Tobago, most companies pay their employees monthly. This is the standard and most common payroll cycle. Some industries, like retail or manufacturing, might pay weekly or bi-weekly, but monthly is the norm.
When you pay your employees, you must provide them with a payslip. This document should clearly show their earnings for the period, any deductions made for taxes, and their National Insurance System (NIS) number. Payments are usually made through a direct bank transfer.
Overtime & minimums
The standard work week is 40 hours, typically eight hours a day, Monday to Friday. If an employee works beyond these hours, they are entitled to overtime pay.
- First four hours of overtime: 1.5 times their regular pay rate.
- After the first four hours: 2 times their regular pay rate.
- Work on holidays: 2 times their regular pay rate.
As of January 2024, the national minimum wage is TTD 20.50 per hour.
Employer taxes and contributions
As an employer in Trinidad and Tobago, you are responsible for a few key contributions. These are calculated as a part of your employee's earnings.
Contribution | Rate | Notes |
---|---|---|
National Insurance System (NIS) | Varies based on employee earnings. | Employers contribute two-thirds of the total NIS payment. The maximum weekly contribution for the employer is TTD 276.20 for employees earning over TTD 13,600 per month. |
Pension Fund | 6.23% | This is a standard contribution. |
Employee taxes and deductions
Your employees also contribute to national systems through deductions from their pay. You are responsible for withholding these amounts and remitting them to the government.
Deduction | Rate | Notes |
---|---|---|
Pay As You Earn (PAYE) Income Tax | 25% on chargeable income up to TTD 1 million annually. 30% on income over TTD 1 million. | The first TTD 90,000 of an employee's annual income is not taxed, as of January 2023. |
National Insurance System (NIS) | Varies based on earnings. | Employees contribute one-third of the total NIS payment. The maximum weekly contribution for an employee is TTD 138.10 for those earning over TTD 13,600 per month. |
Health Surcharge | TTD 8.25 per week. | This applies to employees who earn more than TTD 470 per month. |
Pension Fund | 3.11% | A standard deduction for employees. |
How an Employer of Record, like Rivermate can help with payroll taxes and compliance in Trinidad and Tobago
An Employer of Record (EOR) manages monthly payroll calculations, employer contributions, and tax filings in-country on your behalf. Rivermate handles registrations, payslips, statutory reporting, and remittances to authorities so you stay compliant with local rules and deadlines—without setting up a local entity. Our specialists monitor regulatory changes and ensure correct rates, thresholds, and caps are applied to every payroll cycle.
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Benefits and Leave in Trinidad and Tobago
In Trinidad and Tobago, employee benefits are a mix of legally required protections and common practices that help you attract and keep great talent. The law sets the minimum, but many companies offer more to stay competitive. Understanding both the mandatory and expected benefits is key to building a strong team.
Statutory Leave
Here are the leave benefits required by law.
- Maternity Leave: Female employees with at least 12 months of continuous service are entitled to 14 weeks of maternity leave. They receive one month's full pay and a maternity benefit from the National Insurance System (NIS).
- Sick Leave: While there is no universal law for paid sick leave, a common practice is to offer 14 days per year. This is often guided by practices in the public sector and specific industry wage orders.
- Vacation Leave: After working for one year, employees are generally entitled to paid vacation, typically ranging from two to five weeks. The exact amount is usually defined in the employment contract.
Public Holidays & Regional Holidays
Employees are entitled to a paid day off for public holidays. There are no separate regional holidays for Tobago.
Holiday | Date in 2025 |
---|---|
New Year's Day | January 1 |
Carnival Monday | March 3 |
Carnival Tuesday | March 4 |
Spiritual Baptist Liberation Day | March 30 |
Eid al-Fitr | March 31 |
Good Friday | April 18 |
Easter Monday | April 21 |
Indian Arrival Day | May 30 |
Corpus Christi | June 19 |
Labour Day | June 19 |
Emancipation Day | August 1 |
Independence Day | August 31 |
Republic Day | September 24 |
Divali | October 20 |
Christmas Day | December 25 |
Boxing Day | December 26 |
Typical Supplemental Benefits
To build a competitive benefits package, many employers offer more than the legal minimum.
Statutory Benefits | Common Non-Statutory Benefits |
---|---|
National Insurance System (NIS) Contributions | Private Health Insurance (Medical, Dental, Vision) |
Maternity Leave Pay | Supplementary Pension Plans |
Workmen's Compensation Insurance | Life and Disability Insurance |
Performance Bonuses | |
Housing or Travel Allowances | |
Meal Allowances | |
Additional Paid Vacation and Sick Leave | |
Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) |
How an EOR Can Help with Setting Up Benefits
Setting up a competitive and compliant benefits package in a new country can be complex. An Employer of Record (EOR) simplifies this process for you.
An EOR helps you:
- Ensure Compliance: We navigate all local labor laws to make sure your benefits meet the legal requirements.
- Offer Competitive Packages: We provide insight into local market expectations, helping you offer benefits that attract top talent.
- Simplify Administration: We handle the enrollment and management of all benefits, from health insurance to pension plans.
- Save Time: You avoid the need to establish a local entity or become an expert in Trinidad and Tobago's employment regulations. You can focus on growing your business.
How an Employer of Record, like Rivermate can help with local benefits in Trinidad and Tobago
Rivermate provides compliant, locally competitive benefits—such as health insurance, pension, and statutory coverages—integrated into one EOR platform. We administer enrollments, manage renewals, and ensure contributions and withholdings meet country requirements so your team receives the right benefits without added overhead.
Termination and Offboarding in Trinidad and Tobago
When an employment relationship ends in Trinidad and Tobago, you need to follow a clear process. This process, known as termination and offboarding, ensures you treat your employees fairly and comply with local laws. The termination of employment is not governed by a single piece of legislation, but rather by a combination of common law and specific acts, like the Retrenchment and Severance Benefits Act. You must have a just cause for termination, such as poor performance or misconduct. The offboarding process involves several steps, including conducting an exit interview, ensuring the return of company property, processing final pay, and updating records.
Notice Periods
When terminating an employee, you must provide them with written notice. The length of the notice period depends on how long the employee has worked for you. While some sources suggest a general notice period of one month, the specific requirements can vary based on the employment contract or collective agreements. It is also possible to provide payment in lieu of notice, which means you pay the employee the wages they would have earned during the notice period instead of having them work.
Severance Pay
Severance pay is mandatory in certain situations, primarily governed by the Retrenchment and Severance Benefits Act. An employee's eligibility for severance often depends on their length of continuous service.
Here’s a simple breakdown of how to calculate severance pay:
Length of Service | Severance Calculation |
---|---|
1 to 5 years | 2 weeks of pay for each year of service |
More than 5 years | 3 weeks of pay for each year of service |
How Rivermate Handles Compliant Exits
When you partner with an Employer of Record like Rivermate, we manage the entire termination and offboarding process for you. We ensure that every step complies with the specific legal requirements in Trinidad and Tobago.
Here’s what we do:
- Ensure Just Cause: We help you document valid reasons for termination to avoid potential disputes.
- Manage Notice Periods: We calculate the correct notice period for each employee based on their service length and contractual agreements.
- Calculate Final Pay: We handle the accurate calculation of all final payments, including outstanding wages, accrued vacation, and severance pay.
- Handle Paperwork: We take care of all the necessary documentation to ensure a smooth and compliant exit process.
- Mitigate Risk: Our expertise in local labor laws helps protect you from the risks of unfair dismissal claims.
Visa and work permits in Trinidad and Tobago
Any non-national needs a work permit to be employed in Trinidad and Tobago. This applies whether the work is paid or unpaid. The only exception is for individuals working for a single period of thirty days or less within a year. The Ministry of National Security is in charge of issuing work permits. Generally, work permits are issued for up to three years and can be renewed.
Employment visas & sponsorship realities
An Employer of Record (EOR) can legally hire and sponsor work permits for foreign employees in Trinidad and Tobago. This means you don't need to set up your own local entity to employ someone there. The EOR takes on the legal responsibilities of the employer, including handling employment contracts, payroll, taxes, and benefits.
Here are some practical points about sponsorship:
- EORs handle the process. They manage the work permit application and ensure everything complies with local labor laws.
- Justification is key. The employer must show that a foreign national is being hired because the skills are not available locally.
- It takes time. The entire process, from initial application to receiving the final permit, can take several months.
While an EOR can sponsor most work permits, there can be limitations due to country-specific visa quotas. It is always best to check with the EOR about your specific situation.
Business travel compliance
For short-term visits, many foreign nationals, including those from the United States, do not need a visa to enter Trinidad and Tobago for business or tourism. These visa-exempt stays are typically for 90 days or less.
Keep these compliance points in mind for business travel:
- No work allowed. A business visit does not permit any form of employment, paid or unpaid. For any work, a work permit is required.
- Valid travel documents. Travelers need a passport that is valid for at least three months longer than their intended stay and a return ticket.
- Know the rules. It's illegal to wear camouflage clothing in Trinidad and Tobago, and doing so could lead to detention and confiscation of the items.
How an Employer of Record, like Rivermate can help with work permits in Trinidad and Tobago
Navigating work permits can be complex and time‑sensitive. Rivermate coordinates the entire process end‑to‑end: determining the right visa category, preparing employer and employee documentation, liaising with local authorities, and ensuring full compliance with country‑specific rules. Our in‑country experts accelerate timelines, minimize refusals, and keep you updated on each milestone so your hire can start on time—legally and confidently.
Frequently asked questions about EOR in Trinidad and Tobago
About the author

Lucas Botzen
Lucas Botzen is the founder of Rivermate, a global HR platform specializing in international payroll, compliance, and benefits management for remote companies. He previously co-founded and successfully exited Boloo, scaling it to over €2 million in annual revenue. Lucas is passionate about technology, automation, and remote work, advocating for innovative digital solutions that streamline global employment.