Senior Reporter
About 100 employees have been retrenched by Proman Trinidad following a nine per cent reduction in its local workforce, deepening concerns about employment, investment and the future of the Point Lisas Industrial Estate.
The retrenchment exercise was completed yesterday, after affected workers received separation letters. Remaining employees were informed by email later in the day that the process had concluded.
In a response to Guardian Media, Proman Trinidad said the reduction formed part of a global organisational alignment initiative. The company said all affected employees had been notified and support services remain available to those leaving and those remaining with the business.
The job cuts come as Trinidad and Tobago’s energy sector faces increasing pressure from reduced gas availability. Another company, Nutrien, also announced an indefinite shutdown of its nitrogen operations on Monday, while uncertainty also surrounds employment at Methanex’s Titan methanol plant.
One of the largest tenants at the Point Lisas Industrial Estate, Proman informed affected workers that their positions had been declared surplus following consultations on September 25 and October 5.
In retrenchment letters yesterday, the company said the decision was necessary to align its cost structure, staffing levels and operating model with current production levels and prevailing business realities, both locally and internationally. It also referenced the period provided for employee feedback following the initial consultations.
Proman advised employees that no suitable alternative positions could be identified within the organisation and said the retrenchment process would follow the principle of “Last In, First Out.”
Affected workers will receive 45 days’ notice, with November 23, 2026, designated as their final day of employment. Employees will not be required to report to work during the notice period.
Severance package and benefits
The company outlined enhanced severance terms based on total guaranteed cash earnings and years of service.
Employees with more than one year but less than five years of service will receive 0.75 months’ pay for each completed year of service. Those with five years or more will receive one month’s salary for each year of service.
Payments will remain subject to applicable PAYE requirements and statutory deductions, with outstanding amounts to be paid following approval by the Board of Inland Revenue. Earnings up to October 9 will be processed through the normal payroll cycle.
Proman has also extended group health coverage for affected employees and their dependants until December 31.
Former Energy and Finance minister Conrad Enill yesterday described the retrenchments as part of an adjustment period in which businesses must adapt to available resources and revenue streams.
He said the contraction of the energy sector extends beyond individual companies and could ultimately affect government revenues deposited into the Consolidated Fund.
“We are going to have to make adjustments based on new revenues or less revenues that will be available for us,” Enill said.
He cautioned against attributing the layoffs solely to natural gas supply issues, arguing that companies must also consider the cost of acquiring gas and broader market conditions.
The National Gas Company purchases natural gas before selling it to customers, making acquisition costs a key consideration in commercial decision-making.
“I don’t know that it’s a gas issue. I think that it is a market issue, and it’s like every other business. It is what is happening at this point,” Enill said.
He also warned that staff reductions do not necessarily mean a company will be less profitable or contribute less tax revenue.
“For example, if Proman reduces its employee cost, does that mean that it is less profitable? Maybe not. So it means the taxes to the government may be the same; however, the employment may be different,” he said.
However, Couva/Point Lisas Chamber of Commerce first vice-president Amit Dass said the loss of around 100 well-paid jobs would have significant consequences for workers, families and businesses beyond the industrial estate.
“The industrial estate, 100 staff cuts, is concerning because those are high-paying jobs. And until we get more gas into the system, those jobs won’t be coming back,” Dass said.
He said the effects would ripple throughout the economy, reducing spending at supermarkets, banks and small businesses, while putting additional pressure on households with mortgages, personal loans and other financial obligations.
“With the continued contraction of the economy, it is expected that this may continue until gas can come back into the system. And something like this affects all businesses, right, from big to small,” he said.
Dass also expressed concern about the country’s foreign exchange position. While noting that Nutrien’s shutdown could allow gas to be redirected to Atlantic LNG, generating foreign exchange through exports, he said the broader forex outlook remains troubling because of Trinidad and Tobago’s heavy reliance on imports.
More job losses feared
The chamber fears further job losses could occur if gas production does not improve. Dass called for greater collaboration among energy-sector stakeholders and increased investment in exploration and production activities.
He argued that additional gas supplies are essential to restoring activity at Point Lisas and warned that production could decline further before new fields come on stream.
The concerns follow Nutrien’s decision to indefinitely shut down its Trinidad Nitrogen operations after prolonged challenges related to natural gas supply and port access. The move has already put about 350 contract workers out of work, while uncertainty remains over the future of its permanent staff.
Meanwhile, Methanex’s Titan methanol plant has been idled following the expiration of its gas supply contract, with workers facing further uncertainty ahead of November 6.
Dass said the chamber hopes Monday’s national budget will include significant investment in oil and gas exploration, improving the country’s prospects for restoring production, safeguarding jobs and supporting economic growth.
