Key labour actors of Timor-Leste sign Decent Work Country Programme 2022-2025

The signing ceremony of the Timor-Leste Decent Work Country (DWCP) Programme 2022-2025 was held in Dili on 18 August, affirming the commitment from key labour actors to collaborate and coordinate in promoting and realizing decent work for all in Timor-Leste. 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.

The priorities of the DWCP programme are in line with our human-centred development programme. The SEFOPE pays a serious attention to the capacity building and to be ready for the future and equal opportunity for men and women."

HE. Alarico de Rosario, Secretary of State for Vocational Training and Employment (SEFOPE)

The DWCP programme was officially signed by HE. Alarico de Rosario, Secretary of State for Vocational Training and Employment (SEFOPE), Oscar Lima, President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Timor-Leste (CCI-TL), Almerio Vila-Nova, President of the Timor-Leste Trade Union Confederation (KSTL) and Michiko Miyamoto, Country Director of the ILO for Timor-Leste and Indonesia.

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
3. Improved labour market governance, including strengthened capacity of workers’ and employers’ organizations to effectively participate in and influence policy and decision-making processes.

In addition to the three priorities, the promotion of tripartism and social dialogue are mainstreamed throughout the DWCP priorities.

The UN system looks forward to future dialogues and activities among the key constituents for the improvements of country’s labour market governance as well as people’s livelihoods and welfare."

Ricardo Measino, Head of UN Resident Coordinator’s Office in Timor-Leste

“The priorities of the DWCP programme are in line with our human-centred development programme. The SEFOPE pays a serious attention to the capacity building and to be ready for the future and equal opportunity for men and women. We are looking forward to implementing better, improved collaboration among the involved stakeholders to achieve the targets of DWCP,” said Secretary State Alarico in his opening remarks.

The ILO’s Country Director for Timor-Leste Michiko highlighted the role of DWCP as a guideline for Timor-Leste to develop innovative approaches in its education and training systems. “The DWCP translates the mandate of the ILO and its contribution to Timor-Leste. The previous DWCP focused on rural developments and the current DWCP has shifted its focuses to the employment promotion, entrepreneurship, capacity building and social protection that need to support the future development of the country,” she stated.

Witnessing the signing ceremony, Ricardo Measino, Head of UN Resident Coordinator’s Office in Timor-Leste congratulated the ILO and its tripartite constituents. He also appraised the DWCP programme which has been designed to support the achievements of UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goals No. 1 on poverty reduction, No. 6 No. 8 on decent work and economic growth and No. 9 on industry innovation and infrastructure.

“The UN system looks forward to future dialogues and activities among the key constituents for the improvements of country’s labour market governance as well as people’s livelihoods and welfare,” he said.

The signing ceremony of the DWCP programme was followed by the national tripartite dialogue. The tripartite dialogue aimed to strengthen the social dialogue mechanism in the country and to provide a venue for discussing and reviewing the progress made and the way forward linked to the efforts to tackle the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Some issues discussed included the improvements of law and regulations, continued socialization regarding the health protocols and vaccines and capacity building in all aspects of employment.

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.