The ILO in Timor-Leste

Timor-Leste became the Organization’s 177th member State on 19 August 2003. One of the major challenges for the country is to reduce poverty and create jobs for its population. The ILO assists Timor-Leste to move forward with decent work objectives, through programmes and work in three priority areas.

The Decent Work Country Programme for Timor-Leste includes the following objectives:

Youth employment promotion

• Effective implementation of youth-focused social and economic policies and programmes
• Labour market information-based social and economic development policy and programme formulation and implementation
• National competency-based skills training system endorsed by public and private training provider

Rural economic development

• Enhanced rural employment, safety net, and economy through employment-intensive infrastructure investment
• More and better business development support services to improve micro and small enterprises in rural areas

Labour market governance

• Ratification of core ILO Conventions, development of reporting capacity, and incorporation of Iinternational labour standards principles into national legislative framework
• Increased capacity of employers' and workers' organizations to participate effectively in the development of social and labour policy

The promotion of gender equality and tripartism, and institutional capacity building of ILO constituents are cross-cutting themes in the above programme priorities and outcomes.