PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad and Tobago (ILO News) - The Government of Trinidad and Tobago has taken a decisive step toward building a national productivity ecosystem, following a meeting on 31 March 2026 between the Ministry of Labour, Small and Microenterprise Development (MOLSED) and the ILO Caribbean Office.

The meeting, convened at the invitation of Senator the Honourable Leroy Baptiste, Minister of Labour, Small and Micro Enterprise Development, followed Cabinet's approval of a roadmap for implementing a Productivity Ecosystem for Decent Work model in Trinidad and Tobago. which has at its core, the application of a training methodology called, Sustaining Competitive and Responsible Enterprises (SCORE) - a proven set of tools to improve enterprise performance, working conditions and job quality.

Why productivity matters

Productivity measures how effectively an economy turns its people's work, skills and resources into goods and services. When productivity rises, enterprises can grow, invest and create more jobs. in turn, better jobs, through higher wages, skills and working conditions, further strengthen productivity. International evidence shows that poverty declines faster in countries with sustained productivity growth, while on the other hand, stagnation deepens inequality.

For Trinidad and Tobago, where micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) form the backbone of the non-energy economy, productivity gains are essential to the country's diversification goals. Many MSMEs contend with outdated processes, limited digitalization, constrained access to finance and gaps in business development services - factors that directly affect both productivity and job creation.

"Productivity is not just an economic issue - it is a decent work issue. Better productivity can and should go hand in hand with better-quality jobs, safer workplaces and more secure livelihoods," said Joni Musabayana, Director of the ILO Decent Work Team and Office for the Caribbean.

From enterprise support to system-wide change

A productivity ecosystem is the web of policies, institutions, sectors and enterprises that collectively shape how productively a country works. The ILO's Productivity Ecosystems for Decent Work (PE4DW) approach which has been applied successfully in Ghana, South Africa and Viet Nam, promises to support Trinidad and Tobago's move to address systemic constraints at three interconnected levels.

At the micro level, it will focus on improvements in the management practices, workplace safety, digital upgrading and resource efficiency of enterprises. At the meso level, it strengthens sectors, value chains and business development services. At the macro level, it promotes coherent industrial, employment and innovation policies and an enabling business environment.

Crucially, the approach is driven by dialogue among government, employers and workers who are the engine of sustainable productivity reform, ensuring that gains are negotiated and inclusive.

A practical starting point

John Bliek, ILO Sustainable Enterprise Development and Job Creation Specialist, presented the proposed roadmap to participants. The first phase centres on the SCORE training programme, a proven methodology deployed in more than 30 countries with over 5,800 enterprises since 2009. SCORE trains managers and workers together in workplace cooperation, quality improvement, occupational safety and health, and resource efficiency. Each training cycle combines workshop-based learning with on-site consulting visits, creating enterprise improvement teams that drive continuous change from within.

"The SCORE programme gives us a practical starting point - real tools that enterprises can apply immediately to improve how they work, while generating the data we need to address systemic constraints across sectors," said Bliek.

What this means for workers and enterprises

For workers, a functioning productivity ecosystem translates into safer workplaces, stronger skills, higher wages and more stable employment. For enterprises particularly MSMEs in sectors such as agro-processing and tourism it means access to training, better management practices and connections to wider value chains. For the country, it supports the shift from a resource-dependent economy toward diversified, sustainable growth aligned with Sustainable Development Goal 8 on decent work and economic growth.

A recent 21st Century Skills Assessment of five emerging sectors in Trinidad and Tobago maritime, tourism, software design and applications, agro-processing and aviation conducted by the National Institute of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology (NIHERST) using ILO methodologies, has already identified critical skills gaps and mismatches that the ecosystem approach can help address.

A shared national agenda

Minister Baptiste signalled the Government's commitment to advancing the initiative as a shared national priority.

"Enhancing national productivity is imperative for Trinidad and Tobago. A more productive country produces an economy that works for every citizen of Trinidad and Tobago - one where growth is inclusive, enterprises can compete and workers share in the benefits of national progress. This is in keeping with Goal 8 of the UN's Sustainable Development Goals which aims to promote sustained, inclusive and sustained economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all," Sen. the Hon. Leroy Baptiste, Minister of Labour, Small and Micro Enterprise Development.

As implementation advances, the partners' focus will remain on translating strategy into tangible results - more productive enterprises, better jobs and improved quality of life for citizens. The initiative signals a shift toward a comprehensive national effort, positioning productivity as a key driver of inclusive and sustainable development in Trinidad and Tobago.