News
The ILO and Timor-Leste enhance their collaborative efforts to promote employment opportunities
The courtesy meetings between the ILO and key government officials of Timor-Leste reinforce their shared commitment to ensuring decent work for all in the country.
10 March 2025
DILI, Timor-Leste (ILO News) - During her second official visit to Timor-Leste, Simrin Singh, ILO Country Director for Indonesia and Timor-Leste, conducted courtesy meetings with key government officials to advance employment promotion, skills development and labour market governance.
We recognize the importance of investing in a green economy and sustainable job creation. The ILO’s technical expertise will be instrumental in supporting policies that drive economic transformation while ensuring social protection for workers.
Francisco Kalbuadi Lay, Vice-Prime Minister, Minister Coordinator for Economic Affairs and Minister of Tourism and Environment
The main courtesy meeting was conducted with Francisco Kalbuadi Lay, Vice-Prime Minister, Minister Coordinator for Economic Affairs and Minister of Tourism and Environment on 6 March. The main focus of the meeting was to discuss the ILO’s interventions in preparing workers and policymakers for a just transition and the formal economy. These interventions aim to support economic diversification, while promoting environmentally sustainable production and social dialogue.
“We recognize the importance of investing in a green economy and sustainable job creation,” remarked Vice-Prime Minister Kalbuadi Lay. “The ILO’s technical expertise will be instrumental in supporting policies that drive economic transformation while ensuring social protection for workers.”
Through policy development and capacity building, we support economic diversification while promoting environmentally sustainable production and social dialogue for an inclusive and resilient future.
Simrin Singh, ILO Country Director for Indonesia and Timor-Leste
The meeting also discussed the collaboration between the ILO and the National Directorate of Climate Change in advancing green employment strategies. Simrin underscored the continuous support of the ILO to align labour policies with climate actions as part of the organization’s commitment to helping Timor-Leste overcome employment challenges and build a sustainable and inclusive economy.
“The ILO in Timor-Leste is committed to preparing workers and policymakers for a just transition and the formal economy. Through policy development and capacity building, we support economic diversification while promoting environmentally sustainable production and social dialogue for an inclusive and resilient future,” stated Simrin.
The ILO also met with Rogério Araújo Mendonça, Secretary of State for Vocational Training and Employment. Held on 4 March, the meeting discussed about the implementation of Decent Work Country Programme (DWCP) 2022-2025 and the preparation of the new phase of DWCP.
We appreciate the continuous support of the ILO in advancing employment and vocational training in Timor-Leste.
Rogério Araújo Mendonça, Secretary of State for Vocational Training and Employment
The Secretary of State appreciated the ILO commitment to support the promotion of employment in Timor-Leste through the DWCP by saying: “We appreciate the continuous support of the ILO in advancing employment and vocational training in Timor-Leste. Collaboration on skills development and labour market governance is crucial for fostering decent work opportunities.”
Both meetings highlighted the productive collaboration between the ILO and Timor-Leste, which became an ILO member State in 2003, to develop sustainable employment policies and implement labor market reforms aimed at achieving decent work for all in the country.