Workers' organization

Timor-Leste strengthens the voice and representation of informal economy workers

Workers in Timor-Leste’s informal economy, with support from the ILO, have taken a major step towards stronger representation and recognition with the establishment of the country’s first national association for informal economy workers.

29 May 2026

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DILI, Timor-Leste (ILO News) - More than 130 representatives from 33 worker groups across the municipalities of Dili, Aileu, Ermera and Liquica gathered in Dili on 25 and 26 May for the National Conference on Social and Economic Justice for Workers in the Informal Economy. The conference concluded with the formation of the Assosiasaun Hakbiit Traballadór Ekonomia Informál Timor-Leste (ASHATEI-TL), a new umbrella organization aimed at strengthening the collective voice of informal workers nationwide.

In Timor-Leste, informal employment remains the dominant form of work. According to the 2021 Labour Force Survey, 77.3 per cent are engaged in informal employment, with higher rates among women and rural workers. Many face limited access to social protection, labour rights and training opportunities and representation mechanisms despite their significant contribution to local economies and communities.

five representatives of the Timorese informal workers — Assosiasaun Hakbiit Traballadór Ekonomia Informál Timor-Leste (ASHATEI-TL), 05/2026

The conference was organized by the Konfederasaun Sindikatu Timor-Leste (KSTL) with support from the International Labour Organization (ILO), under the intervention “Strengthening KSTL’s Organization of Informal Economy Workers through Community-Based Forums in Timor-Leste”. The initiative aims to strengthen the organization of informal economy workers through community-led forums, digital engagement and improved access to grievance handling and support services, while promoting pathways towards formalization in line with ILO Recommendation No. 204 on the Transition from the Informal to the Formal Economy.

KSTL President Almerio J. Vila-Nova expressed appreciation for the continued collaboration with the ILO in supporting municipal-level community forums and outreach activities for informal workers. He stressed that the newly established association would serve as an umbrella organization to strengthen solidarity and advocacy among workers in the informal economy.

This association is an important platform for informal economy workers to come together, strengthen solidarity, and collectively advocate for their rights and interests.
Almerio J. Vila-Nova, KSTL President

Similarly, Carlito Rosario Cabral, Director General of the Secretary of State for Vocational Training and Employment (SEFOPE), noted that the establishment of the association represented an important step toward ensuring informal workers are more effectively represented in national development efforts.

Meanwhile Ravindra Samithadasa, ILO Senior Specialist for Workers’ Activities, underscored the vital role of informal workers in Timor-Leste’s economy and society. He remarked: “Today is a historic day. We gather not simply to launch a new association, but to recognize something much deeper: the dignity, contribution and collective strength of informal economy workers across Timor-Leste.”

He emphasized that workers such as market vendors, transport operators, home-based producers, agricultural laborers and waste pickers continue to face insecurity and exclusion, despite sustaining livelihoods and supporting communities nationwide. He further highlighted that ILO Recommendation No. 204 frames the transition to formality as a matter of human dignity and social justice, and requires workers themselves to be at the center of the process.

Today is a historic day. We gather not simply to launch a new association, but to recognize something much deeper: the dignity, contribution and collective strength of informal economy workers across Timor-Leste.
Ravindra Samithadasa, ILO Senior Specialist for Workers’ Activities

During the conference, participants formally adopted the association’s internal statute and elected its first leadership team through a transparent voting process involving delegates from multiple municipalities. They also addressed practical challenges facing informal economy workers, including urban management and hygiene policies, business development support, social security coverage, the role of the State in advancing social and economic justice and institutional engagement.

The conference concluded with a shared commitment from KSTL, government institutions, and partners to continue supporting the organization and protection of informal economy workers in Timor-Leste. Follow-up actions include the formal registration of ASHATEI-TL with the Ministry of Justice and SEFOPE.