What Are The Public Holidays in Trinidad & Tobago in 2026?

List of Public Holidays in Trinidad & Tobago (2026)

Trinidad & Tobago recognises a mix of fixed and movable public holidays that reflect its diverse cultural and religious landscape. The dates below are based on the 2026 calendar and typical national practice, but you should always confirm final dates with the official government gazette.

Do Employers Have to Provide Paid Leave on Public Holidays?

Yes, under Trinidad & Tobago’s labour framework, public holidays are generally treated as paid days off for employees who would ordinarily be scheduled to work on those days. In practice, this means that if a public holiday falls on a normal working day for your employee, you should pay their regular daily wage or salary even if they do not work.

Where a public holiday falls on a Sunday, it is commonly observed on the following Monday, and employees who would normally work on that Monday are usually entitled to the public holiday benefits on the observed day. If your business requires staff to work on a public holiday, they are typically entitled to premium pay (often at least double time) or a combination of premium pay and a day off in lieu, depending on the contract, collective agreement, or sectoral practice.

For part‑time and shift workers, the safest approach is to provide paid leave or premium pay on a pro‑rated basis where the holiday falls on a day they are normally scheduled to work. Where there is no clear statutory rule for a specific scenario, you should follow any applicable collective agreement and align with the more favourable practice to reduce legal and employee‑relations risk.

Legal Penalties for Not Providing Paid Holiday Leave

Failure to honour public holiday entitlements can expose your company to complaints before the Ministry of Labour and the Industrial Court. While specific fines and remedies depend on the legislation applied and the type of worker, the Industrial Court can order payment of outstanding wages, premium rates for work performed on holidays, and in some cases additional compensation or damages where there has been an industrial relations offence.

Enforcement is typically driven by employee complaints or trade union action. Common employer mistakes include treating public holidays as unpaid leave, failing to pay premium rates when employees work on a holiday, misclassifying employees as independent contractors to avoid obligations, and not applying the observed Monday when a holiday falls on a Sunday. Keeping clear records of schedules, hours worked, and holiday pay calculations is essential if your decisions are ever challenged.

How Do Holidays Affect Overtime Thresholds?

Public holidays in Trinidad & Tobago generally sit outside the normal overtime thresholds. When an employee works on a public holiday, they are usually entitled to a premium rate for all hours worked on that day, regardless of whether they have exceeded the standard weekly hours. In many sectors, this premium is at least double the basic hourly rate, sometimes higher under collective agreements.

If an employee works overtime on a public holiday in addition to the premium holiday rate, some employers apply both the holiday premium and the overtime uplift, while others use a single higher composite rate. Because the exact calculation can vary by industry and agreement, the safest practice is to apply the more generous interpretation set out in the employee’s contract or any applicable collective agreement, and to document your policy clearly in your handbook so employees know what to expect.

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