Who We Are - Employers Consultative Association of Trinidad and Tobago

About Us

The ECA is the largest association of Employers in Trinidad and Tobago, and a dedicated advocate for a stronger, more resilient and informed Employer community. The ECA is committed to representing, with excellence and professionalism, the interests of Employers as they relate to labour and social policy at the national and international levels.

The ECA not only possesses a clear understanding of potential issues that are likely to arise from a poorly managed workforce but is also capable of identifying and implementing strategies to mitigate these human capital risks. We understand that proper management of human capital will result in the achievement of both strategic and operational goals of any organisation. This, we believe, will ultimately contribute to the socio-economic success of our nation.

Committed to responsible representation, advocacy and social dialogue.

As a representative body, the ECA’s Board of Directors comprises professionals from its member organisations. Representation, however, is not confined to a voice on a board, as the ECA adopts a hands-on approach in dealing with its membership. As an advisor and consultant to members, the ECA’s focus is on collaboration with companies through the process of partnering with interest groups concerned - internally, by facilitating the cooperation of employers and employees, and externally, through a tripartite mechanism which includes the main interest groups: employers, labour and government.

As a recognised social partner, the Employer community is also represented on a number of State Boards and National Committees. These include:

National Tripartite Advisory Council (NTAC)
Industrial Relations Advisory Committee (IRAC)
National Productivity Council (NPC)
Registration, Recognition and Certification Board (RRCB)
National HIV/AIDS Advocacy Unit
National AIDS Coordinating Council (NACC)
Accreditation Council of Trinidad and Tobago (ACTT)
National Training Agency (NTA)
Minimum Wages Board
National Insurance Appeals Tribunal
Occupational Safety and Health Authority (OSHA)
Pesticides and Toxic Chemicals Control Board
ILO 144 Tripartite Consultative Committee
PAN Caribbean Partnership Against HIV and AIDS (PANCAP)

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Guiding Principles

The ECA's inspiration and direction is guided by its Vision, Mission, Mandate and Values. These fundamental pillars inform the direction and management of the Association.

OUR VISION

To be the premier Employer’s Representative for Human Resource, Industrial Relations and a prominent Advocate for best-practice in business in Trinidad and Tobago.

OUR MISSION

The ECA shall promote the employer’s agenda for the creation of optimum sustainable value for all stakeholders through effective business leadership, advocacy lobbying and the provision of quality Industrial Relations and Training services

OUR MANDATE

To provide employers with informed, innovative and transformational representation at the organisational, national, and international levels in order to ensure the strength and success of the employer community for the socio-economic well-being of the nation

OUR VALUES

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Integrity
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Respect
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Open-Mindedness
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Member-Focused
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Trustworthy
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Collaboration and Teamwork
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Equality and Equity
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Innovation
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Competency and Excellence

History

The history and evolution of the Employers’ Consultative Association of Trinidad and Tobago (ECA) is consistent with the evolution of industrial relations in Trinidad and Tobago (T&T). In fact, the ECA was propelled into existence in 1960 – five (5) years before establishment of the Industrial Stabilisation Act (ISA) – and following a highly contentious and confrontational five 5-year period of heightened industrial action, comprising of over 230 strikes and an estimated 805,000 man-hours lost.

The Beginning

On December 17th, 1959, Mr. A. Elder representing Furness Withy and Company Limited, Mr. R.J.W.S. Struthers representing Campbell Booker Trinidad Limited, and Mr. W.B. Pyett, who was given the title of Organising Secretary, met in the Board Room of Stephens & Todd Limited and agreed that an organisation, which would be named the Trinidad and Tobago Employers' Consultative Association, would be given life. On that day, twenty-two (22) members who had put forth their applications were elected into the membership and five (5) of these founding members are still in existence.

By February 16th 1960, the organisation had attracted thirty (30) members and it was then that it was formally registered. Mr. R.J.W.S. Struthers was elected the first Chairman and Mr. W.B. Pyett was hired as the first employee of the ECA, as Company Secretary.

Between June 1962 and June 1963, five (5) countries joined the International Labour Organization (ILO). One of those new members was Trinidad and Tobago, who had gained its independence just nine (9) months prior, and the employers' member of the first tripartite delegation to the 47th Session of the International Labour Conference (ILC) came from the ECA. Even at this first ILC, the delegate of the ECA actively participated in the Conference, addressing the Plenary and serving as a member of the Committee that dealt with "Termination of Employment", which was one of the agenda items at this ILC.

The Founding Members

The following are the founding members of the ECA, five (5) of which are still in existence today:

Alcoa Steamship Company Inc.
Apex Trinidad Oilfields Limited
Campbell Booker Trinidad Limited
Caroni Limited
Federation Chemicals (Yara Trinidad Limited)
Furness Withy and Company Limited
The Coconut Growers Association Limited
T. Geddes Grant Limited
J. Glendenning & Company Limited
J.N. Harriman & Company Limited
J.T. Johnson Limited
Miller Stores Limited
Neal & Massy Holdings Limited
Shell Trinidad Limited
Texaco Trinidad Inc.
Trinidad Agencies Limited
Trinidad Clay Products Limited
Trinidad Concrete Products Limited
Trinidad Consolidated Telephones Limited (TSTT)
Trinidad Lake Asphalt Limited
Trinidad Petroleum Development Company Limited (PETROTRIN)
West Indian Oil Industries Limited

Past Presidents/Chairmen

1959-1962

R.J.W. Struthers

President

1963-1965

C.V. Pereira

President

1966-1969

Dennis De Verteuil

President

1970-1971

Waldo Nunez

President

1972-1973

James Brady

President

1974-1975

R. Rostant

President

1976

R. Rostant
N. Wyatt
M. Scott

President Management Committee

1977-1978

M. Scott
N. Wyatt
J. Horsham

President Management Committee

1979-1980

David McKnight

President

1981

John F. Horsham
Emil de La Grenade
Ernest Murray

President Management Committee

1982

Emil de La Grenade
Ernest Murray
W.A. Hilton-Clarke

President Management Committee

1983

W.A. Hilton-Clarke

President

1984

Emil de La Grenade

President

1985-1986

W.A. Hilton-Clarke

President

1987-1989

Ernest Murray

President

1990

Emil de La Grenade

President

1991-1992

W.A. Hilton-Clarke

President

1993

Joshua Henry

President

1994

Peter Salvary

President

1995

Seeram Ken Maharaj

President

1996-1997

Seeram Ken Maharaj

Chairman

1998-2001

Gerard Pinard

Chairman

2002-2004

Dane Darbasie

Chairman

2005-2006

Clarence Rambharat

Chairman

2007-2009

Martin de Gannes

Chairman

2009-2010

Ruben Mc Sween

CHAIRMAN

2011-2013

Keston Nancoo

CHAIRMAN

2014-2017

Suzetta Ali

CHAIRMAN

2017-Present

Keston Nancoo

CHAIRMAN

Past Executive Directors/Chief Executive Officers

Dates	Name	Designation	Dates	Name	Designation
March 1960 - December 1960	Mr. W.B. Pyett	Organising Secretary	January 1961 - January 1964	Mr. Robert Douglas Edwards	Director/Secretary
February 1964 - November 1965	Mr. T.B. Hughes	Director	December 1964 - December 1966	Mr. G.C. Boxill	Assistant Director
January 1967 - November 1968	Mr. J.A. Brady	Director	July 1969 - January 1980	Diana Mahabir-Wyatt	Director
February 1981 - June 1984	John L. Nunez	Director	August 1984 - April 1990	Robert M. Robinson	Director
May 1990 - November 1991	Ruby Thompson-Boddie	Director	December 1991 - December 1994	Emru D. Millette	Director
October 1995 - June 2015	Linda M. Besson	Executive Director	July 2015 - January 2018	Joycelyn Francois	Chief Executive Officer
February 2018 - January 2022	Stephanie Fingal	Chief Executive Officer (Interim)	February 2022 - Present	Ronald Ramlogan	Chief Executive Officer