Key labour actors of Timor-Leste review the progress of its DWCP Programme

Key labour actors of Timor-Leste gathered in Dili to review and examine the one-year implementation of the National Decent Work Country (DWCP) Programme 2022-2025. Held on 26 October, the meeting was participated by representatives of the Secretariat of State for Vocational Training and Employment (SEFOPE), the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Timor-Leste (CCI-TL) and the Timor-Leste Trade Union Confederation (KSTL), the board of National Labour Council, the board of National Arbitration Council, the Labour Inspectorate and National Institute for Statistic, together with the ILO representatives, jointly discuss the progresses, challenges, and ways forward of the DWCP.

The Timor-Leste DWCP was officially signed on 18 August 2022, affirming the commitment from key labour actors to collaborate and coordinate in promoting and realizing decent work for all in Timor-Leste. Taking into account the priorities of Timor-Leste’s Government as well as workers’ and employers’ organizations and involving various consultations and reviews, the DWCP programme covers three agreed priorities as the following:

1. Employment promotion and enterprise development;
2. Enhanced protection of workers and social protection; and
3. Improved labour market governance, including strengthened capacity of workers’ and employers’ organizations to effectively participate in and influence policy and decision-making processes.

The DWCP programme is the third DWCP in the country serving as a framework to support Government of Timor-Leste to achieve its Strategic Development Plan (SDP) 2011-2030 and the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) 2021-2025.

As a young country, Timor-Leste has continued to progress with key developments in terms of developing a National Employment Strategy, initiatives to strengthen its labour inspection system and labour law compliance as well as the continuous effort to promote equality and inclusivity."

Michiko Miyamoto, Country Director of the ILO for Timor-Leste

Michiko Miyamoto, Country Director of the ILO for Timor-Leste, appraised the commitment shown by the Timor-Leste’s key labour representatives to achieve the three priorities. She also appraised the solid collaboration among the tripartite constituents and the support given to the ILO for achieving the key priorities above.

“Timor-Leste is an important country for the ILO. As a young country, Timor-Leste has continued to progress with key developments in terms of developing a National Employment Strategy, initiatives to strengthen its labour inspection system and labour law compliance as well as the continuous effort to promote equality and inclusivity,” said Michiko.

During the discussion, representative of the government reported about the initiatives taken to improve employment policies and labour administration in terms of labour inspection, mediation and arbitration. Meanwhile from the perspective of the employers, the representative of CCI-TL emphasized on the initiatives to boost the importance of local businesses and local products for economic growth.

Representative of the KSTL updated their new resolutions developed during its recent national congress that support the development of employment in the country. “We have developed a new resolution consisting of 28 points that focus on employment improvements in the country such as the elimination of child labour, the elimination of violence and harassment, gender equality and youth empowerment,” said Serafico Natalino Soares, Vice President of KSTL.

Participants of the DWCP review meeting held in Dili, Timor-Leste. (c) ILO/Lita Octavia The review meeting concluded with proposed ways forward on the continuation of the elimination of violence and harassment in the workplace that has been promoted by the Spotlight Initiative, funded by the European Union, which will be running until December 2023, the finalisation of draft law Against Violence and Harassment at Workplace and the submission of the National Action Plan on Child Labour which is currently with the Ministry of Coordinating Economic Affairs to the Council of Ministers.

Other ways forward also included the deliberation of law on the protection of domestic workers, the upcoming national seminar of the national labour council in November 2023 and the next national labour survey as the basis for the development and improvement of the labour regulations.

Timor-Leste has become the 177th member States of the ILO in 2003. With a population of over 1.3 million people, 70 percent of them living in rural area. To date, Timor-Leste has ratified six fundamental Conventions of the ILO related to the basic human rights.