Timor-Leste (formerly known as East Timor) joined the ILO in 2003, shortly after it gained full independence from Indonesia.
It remains one of the poorest countries in the world. Poverty, high unemployment, and under-employment are some of the main problems facing the government as it tries to re-build its society and economic foundations. Currently, only about 13 per cent of men and nine per cent of women are engaged in formal employment. Security concerns also makes addressing labour standards issues particularly challenging.
The ILO’s top priorities in Timor-Leste include projects to help boost economic growth, generate better incomes, and create better employment opportunities through skills and labour relations training. The ILO is also working with local partners on issues related to labour migration; employment overseas may ease unemployment pressures and create other sources of income.
The ILO has also been providing technical assistance related to the revision of existing labour laws and the drafting of new ones, including Timor-Leste’s first independently-produced Labour Code.