Meeting of the Council of Ministers on April 22, 2020
Presidency of the Council of Ministers
Eighth Constitutional Government
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Press Release
Meeting of the Council of Ministers of April 22, 2020
The Council of Ministers met at the Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão Auditorium, at the Ministry of Finance, in Dili and approved the draft Decree-Law, presented by the Prime Minister, Taur Matan Ruak, on the Regulation of the Integrated Crisis Management Center (CIGC). Law No. 2/2010 of 21 April on National Security and which created the CIGC requires the Government to approve its regulation. The powers of the CIGC remain as provided for in Law No. 2/2010 of 21 April, and the composition of the CIGC and its attributions are defined in this Decree-Law.
The Acting Minister of Finance, Sara Lobo Brites, presented the draft Decree-Law, approved by the Council of Ministers, on the creation of a remuneration supplement for officials, agents and public administration workers who are active in the prevention or control services of COVID-19, during the period of the state of emergency. The amount of this remuneration supplement, which will be financed by the COVID-19 Fund, may vary depending on the degree of risk to which employees are exposed and will determined by a Government Resolution. This measure will cover health professionals, military personnel, security forces agents, agents of the food and economic safety authority, technical and logistical support personnel and personnel responsible for the collection and transport of solid waste as well as municipal market management who have implemented the measures enacted by the Government for the prevention and control of COVID-19.
The Council of Ministers approved the draft Decree-Law, presented by the Minister of Social Solidarity and Inclusion, Armanda Berta dos Santos, regarding the measures to support employment in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. This legislation mainly aims to prevent unemployment, reduce the impacts on workers' incomes and support the viability of businesses. This Decree-Law sets out the grant of an extraordinary allowance in the case of suspension of the employment contract or reduction of working hours, in the amount equivalent to 60% of the remuneration and also includes the suspension of the payment of social security contributions. This support depends on the cumulative verification of the eligibility conditions provided for in this Decree-Law, which include the obligation for the suspension of the employment contract or reduction of the normal working period to be caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and to occur in accordance with the Labour Law and the obligation for employers and workers to be registered in the social security contribution scheme. Workers and employers who are enrolled in the social security contribution scheme within ten days of the publication of the Ministerial Diploma which will regulate the extraordinary registration procedure will also be covered. ENDS
