The Roads for Development Programme (R4D) utilises ‘labour-based technologies’ in the rehabilitation and maintenance of rural roads in Timor-Leste. To date 500,000 labour days have been generated for local labourers – 150,000 labour days for women (30 per cent) and 350,000 for men (70 per cent). Recently, R4D conducted a qualitative survey to understand women’s experienced from labouring on rural road works. 17 women were interviewed.

In attempting to understand the lines of communication that facilitate women to work, respondents were asked through what means they heard about the opportunity to participate in R4D works. In all cases it was through direct communication with one of three parties: village chiefs (nine women), directly from the contractor (seven women) or from an R4D programme representative (one woman). This could have occurred from direct visits to the women’s home or their participation in ‘Community Mobilisation Meetings’, which were organised between the contractor and local leaders to disseminate information about the road works.

The women were asked about their decision to participate in R4D works. 13 of the respondents replied that they decided by themselves to become labourers on R4D works. For example Atina from the Luro-Barikafa road in Lautem, stated simply,"I made the decision myself to be involved in this work." Helena who lives on the same road, and two other women stated that "I discussed it with my husband to make the decision." Madalena who lives on the Baoi Le-Uatabo road was unique in her response,"I wanted to fix the road, and so I went to work."

Further questions were asked during the interviews to determine the ease/difficulty of their participation in the works. The period of work, daily hours and how the work affected their normal household activities were investigated.

Nine of the women worked for approximately one week, five worked for two weeks and three worked for longer. All women worked full days during their working period except for two. Maria from Maliana-Saburai worked half days for 12 months. "I worked Monday to Saturday, 7 o’clock to 11 o’clock and cooked for the labourers. I earned US$900."

When asked what activities the women did when they returned home after work. 15 women responded simply, "Household activities." Eliza from Mahata-Kusi was one of three who responded with, "Activities for the house and for the farm." The women’s responses indicate that during their participation in the road rehabilitation, regardless of hours worked, no change to their daily activities occurred. When asked about time spent on the different household activities during the works, the common response was "household activities as usual."

When asked how the money earned was spent from labouring on R4D road works, all of the women responded that the income went into the usual household activities (11), food (seven) or children’s schooling (five). Maria from Maliana-Saburai, who as mentioned worked for one year, reported to have invested part of it into livelihoods activities, which in her case was rice growing.

The R4D programme is committed to equitable recruitment. Rural women are proving to be more reliable workers than their male counterparts and more likely to comply with safety regulations and contractor’s instructions. In 2015-2016 longer rotations for women are being implemented, facilitating greater impact for those who work – particularly in the flow-on effects from income injection and skills development.