MIC Institute of Technology Trainees at Pointe-A-Pierre are said to be disadvantaged, as a promised stipend has not been paid more than a year into their programme.
Instead to were made to sign a contract waiving it for a year.
The Public Services Association, which represents the trainees, wants the issue rectified.
00:00M.I.C. Institute of Technology trainees at Pointe-Pay are said to be disadvantaged as the promised stipend has not been paid more than a year into their program.
00:11Instead, they were made to sign a contract, waiving it for a year.
00:15The Public Services Association, which represents the trainees, wants the issue rectified.
00:20Alyssa Boucher has the details.
00:22When the 2024 cohort responded to M.I.C.'s call for registration for the Renewable Energy Apprenticeship Program, they were expecting to pay the $300 registration fee, which they did.
00:34They were also expecting to receive the $3,000 monthly stipend as advertised.
00:40The program was open to people from the ages of 17 to 25 years.
00:44On March 4th, the trainees were accepted to the two-year program, which commenced on March 18th, 2024.
00:50Their acceptance letter came with a contract, asking them to agree to waiving payment of their stipend for a year until March 17th, 2025.
01:01M.I.C. stated in the contract that due to financial constraints, it was unable to pay the trainees.
01:07According to Chairman of the Public Services Association, M.I.C. Section Julie Bissassa,
01:12the trainees were told they couldn't take home the contracts, which were signed on March 22nd.
01:17They have to sign it there one time or they would not be allowed into the program.
01:24So some of those who would have signed would also have been underage.
01:28Some of them would have been 17.
01:30So they did so without parental consent.
01:36The trainees, who have since been informed that they are to be placed in the on-the-job training program to be paid through OJT,
01:43have called on the PSA to intervene.
01:45To date, we're told they have not received a cent, as they are still awaiting placement.
01:50They would have reached out quite recently to find out, you know, what could be done, even if they could get a back pay.
02:00The PSA, which accuses M.I.C. of false advertising, wrote to M.I.C.'s management in January of 2025,
02:06and even made subsequent calls seeking an audience, but has received no response.
02:12So what we plan to do is to write them again, and we will see how that goes,
02:17because we need a solution for these young people.
02:20Alicia Boucher, TV6 News.
02:24However, in response, Chief Executive Officer of M.I.C. Anil Ramnarain tells TV6 News
02:29that while placement at Industry Partners will commence in July 2025,
02:34M.I.C. has been working with the OJT to facilitate payment of stipends to the REIT trainees.
02:40It tells us that they will be paid as per their contractual agreement,
02:44and as such, the stipend payments will commence on or before the 30th of April 2025.
02:50Additionally, M.I.C. is refuting the PSA's allegations pertaining to the underage signing of the contracts,
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