As Trinidad and Tobago faces renewed calls to strengthen labour protections, a new documentary has thrust legislative reform into the national spotlight, using the fallout from ArcelorMittal’s 2016 closure to inform policy and guide interventions aimed at preserving workers’ dignity, livelihoods, and families.

Speaking at the launch of the screening and presentation of the documentary titled ‘Echoes from the Furnace – The Men and Women ArcelorMittal Left Behind’ hosted on Wednesday, Minister of Labour, Small and Micro Enterprise Development, Leroy Baptiste, explained that the documentary opened the opportunity to reflect on broader issues such as workers’ welfare, the protection of their rights, and the responsibility of businesses that profit from their labour.

He pointed out that these concerns highlight a larger issue—the need for legislative reform.