Social Dialogue for Constructive Labour Relations, Application of International Labour Standards and Decent Work

Timor-Leste Strategic Development Plan (2011-2030) outlines ambition to transition from a least developed country towards an upper middle-income country by 2030. An important endeavor in the Plan is to diversify the economy that is highly dependent on revenues from oil and gas. Timor-Leste encountered number of development challenges and gets more complex after COVID-19 pandemic hit the source of its economy. It has a dramatic effect on the jobs, livelihoods and well-being of workers and their families and on enter¬prises across Timor-Leste. Both businesses and workers have suffered and in the process, there is increasing number of labour disputes. This unsettled labour disputes has weaken healthy employment and industrial relations and has come against mechanisms for social dialogue and for conflict resolution (bipartite mechanisms at workplace level and Government provided mediation and arbitration).

Timor-Leste has incorporated the dispute resolution mechanism in its Labour Code namely the Law No.4, 2012 and subsequent to the approval, SEFOPE has established National Labour Council and Labour Arbitration Council to strengthen the social dialogue for constructive labor relations and to promote peaceful and fruitful relations between workers, governments and businesses to achieve objectives of economic growth and diversification.

This intervention will provide technical capacity building and advisory services to the Government, Employers’ and Workers’ Organization in improving Government’s conciliation/mediation services, strengthening the culture of social dialogue and cooperation by promoting tripartite & bipartite policy dialogues and bipartite social dialogue through effective models for workplace cooperation, and technical support for the ratification of Convention No. 144 - Tripartite Consultation. In specific the expected result of this intervention is the revitalization of National Council for Labour for regular social dialogue, improved system of dispute resolution mechanism, agreed modalities to support workplace consultation between Employers’ and Workers’ Organization, and tangible progress towards ratification of Convention No. 144.