A total of 290 representatives of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Timor-Leste (CCI-TL) and of Timor-Leste Trade Union Confederation (KSTL) from eight municipalities participated in the ILO’s series of socialization activities on the Guidelines on Grievance Policy and Procedure at the company level. These activities aimed to improve bipartite conflict management services and workplace cooperation.

Conducted for six months from February to July 2022, these socialization activities were an immediate follow-up to the joint Declaration for the Protection of Dignity at Work and Inclusive Working Environment signed last December 2021. The Declaration recognizes that employees who have suffered from any form of discrimination and/or other labour rights violation are entitled to raise the matter through the agreed grievance procedures at the company level and are not victimized.

The Guidelines elaborate the purposes of the grievance policy and set out the procedure to address complaints quickly and systematically to prevent minor issues from developing into more serious disputes. Effective grievance redressal mechanisms minimize disruption to production, resolve problems within enterprises without external intervention and build mutual trust and confidence between labour and management.

The Guidelines provide for step-by-step grievance procedure based on international good practices, with the recommendation that these should be adapted to ensure that these reflect the needs of workers and the enterprise(s) in Timor Leste.

The socialization activities provided a venue for the participating representatives of employers’ and workers’ organizations to share their experiences and challenges they face. It was an opportunity to not only have better understanding about the grievance handling policy but also mechanisms to find win-win solutions and strengthen bipartite collaboration at municipality and enterprise levels.

Issues discussed during the socialization activities included minimum wages, employment contracts, compliance with Timor-Leste labour law and improving workplace consultation and cooperation. Both employers and workers representatives also agreed to have more activities on building the understanding on labour law (Law No. 4/2012) to promote better compliance.

Representatives of workers and employers appreciated the socialization activities on grievance handling policy and mechanism. “Both KSTL and CCI-TL should work together. We need to find solutions for workplace conflicts,” stated Oscar Lima, President of CCI-TL. Similarly, Almerio Vila-Nova, President of KSTL emphasized the need for industrial relations’ transformation. “Conflict is inevitable in employment relationships, but costs and consequences can be avoided or minimized if both sides seek solutions through labour-management consultation and cooperation.”

The targeted eight municipalities were the Special Autonomous Region of Oecusse (RAEOA), Bobonaro, Ermera, Dili, Baucau, Manatuto, Ainaro and Aileu.