Media Releases
- 24 of March of 2021Meeting of the Council of Ministers on March 24th, 2021Presidency of the Council of Ministersmore
Eighth Constitutional Government
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Press Release
Meeting of the Council of Ministers on March 24th, 2021
The Council of Ministers met, at the Ministry of Finance, in Dili, and began the meeting with the analysis of the presentation that the coordinators of the Integrated Crisis Management Centre (CIGC – Portuguese acronym) gave, on the state of the epidemiological situation in Timor-Leste. Currently, sporadic cases are reported in Oe-Cússe and Covalima, there is spread of cases in Baucau, Viqueque and Lautém, with origin in people coming from Dili, before the imposition of the sanitary fence, and there’s a highly virulent propagation in several areas of the city of Dili.
CIGC’s situation room officials presented as immediate priority to stop the existing transmission outbreaks, through a rapid detection and isolation of all positive cases. It is also intended to increase the capacity of laboratory analysis and contact screening. It is also a priority to prevent the transmission of the virus to other municipalities and to prepare the necessary actions to mitigate possible Community transmission outbreaks that may exist. Another priority objective is to mitigate the socio-economic effects of COVID-19.
Given the evolution of the epidemiological situation in the Fatumean Administrative Post, municipality of Covalima, the Council of Ministers approved a Government Resolution draft repealing Government’s Resolution No. 13/2021, of March 10th, which imposes a Health Fence in Fatumean Administrative Post.
The Government has decided to propose to His Excellency, the President of the Republic, Francisco Guterres Lú Olo, the renewing of the state of emergency for another thirty days. Given the worrying developments in the epidemiological situation and the proliferation of registered cases of COVID-19 contagion, and in order to avoid and neutralise the risks of SARS-CoV-2 spreading, thus protecting the public health and National Health System responsiveness, the Government proposes to the President of the Republic that, with the renewal of the state of emergency, some fundamental rights and guarantees may be suspended or restricted.
Finally, the Council of Ministers approved the Law Proposal draft for the first amendment to Law No. 14/2020, of December 29th, which approves the 2021 General State Budget (2021 GSB), to be submitted to the National Parliament with a request for priority and urgency, to respond to the epidemiological situation of COVID-19 and its socio-economic impacts.
With this amendment, consolidated revenues from the General Public Sector now amount to US$ 2,165.1 million and revenues from central government agencies and services now amount to US$ 1,932.5 million. The budgets of the Special Administrative Region of Oe-Cússe Ambeno and Social Security are unchanged.
The amendment will finance a set of six main intervention measures, prepared by the Government, which are: 1) employment support; 2) moratorium on credits; 3) exemption from tuition fees; 4) food acquisition; 5) support to frontline professionals; and 6) COVID-19 prevention and mitigation measures.
Under the employment support measure, an extraordinary subsidy will be granted, for a period of three months, from March to May 2021, to employees, with the amount equivalent to 70% of salary in sectors of activity legally prevented from operating, and 50% of remuneration in sectors that are operating normally. Employers and workers are exempted from the duty to pay social contributions relating to this income.
Self-employed workers, individual entrepreneurs, domestic service workers, and managers and administrators are also provided for an extraordinary allowance, also for a period of three months, equivalent to 85% of the value of their conventional remuneration. They are also exempted from the duty to pay social contributions relating to this income. Also included in this measure are workers who carry out informal activities, provided that they proceed to their formalization with the National Institute of Social Security.
An extraordinary unemployment benefit is also provided for workers enrolled and with contributions already made to Social Security, with the amount of 40% of the value of conventional remuneration for the 1st step, which forms the basis of contributory incidence for social security, in optional enrolment.
For employers, self-employed workers, individual entrepreneurs, domestic service workers and managers and administrators, are also provided for the waiver of the duty to pay social contributions and the allocation of extraordinary subsidies for joint contribution of energy and rent costs.
It is also intended to relieve the debtors from the costs with the amortization of loans, with the implementationof the moratorium on the fulfilment of obligations arising from credit concession agreements, deferringby nine months the maturity of the obligations of capital returning and establishing the jointly participation of the State in the payment of interest.
It is also proposed to exempt students from higher education, which are prevented to carry out face-to-face education, from paying tuition fees, up to the amount of US$ 150.
It is planned the acquisition of food, by the National Logistics Centre, from national producers, and for distribution by the most deprived people and families.
Part of the strengthening of 2021 GSB will be used to finance COVID-19 prevention and mitigation measures, notably related to the implementation of the vaccination program and the acquisition of more material for testing and treatment of hospitalized patients, as well as the construction of new isolation and quarantine sites and increase capacity of existing sites.
It is also provided for in the Law proposal, the support of frontline professionals, CIGC activities, the Basic Basket Program and the strengthening of rice stock in the National Logistics Centre.
The adoption of these measures requires a strengthening of the General State Budget, focusing on increasing the allocation of the COVID-19 Fund. The increase in revenue to finance the expected increase in expenditure will be achieved by the inclusion of management balances calculated at the end of the 2020 financial year, but not included in 2021 GSB, as well as the reallocation of budget appropriations between services, from the Appropriations for the entire Government and the Infrastructure Fund, so, it is not necessary to increase the amount of the transfer from the Petroleum Fund to the GSB. END - 17 of March of 2021Government is committed to ensure a quick and effective socio-economic response to COVID-19Presidency of the Council of Ministersmore
Eighth Constitutional Government
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March 17, 2021
Press Release
Government is committed to ensuring a quick and effective COVID-19 socio-economic response
In order to address the epidemiological situation of the new coronavirus in Timor-Leste, Prime-Minister Taur Matan Ruak guided the relevant Government members in this matter, to boost the ongoing process of preparing the socio-economic response to the effects of COVID-19, so that the necessary humanitarian, economic and social support is determined and provided to the affected population, as soon as possible.
As happened last year, the Head of Government has set as a national priority to respond, quickly and effectively, to the socio-economic costs and implications of COVID-19, so that people affected by this negative effects are protected from income losses and unemployment, and so that businesses facing difficulties are able to maintain their cash flow and economic activity.
The Government will also finalize support for university students displaced from their families and municipalities.
Support for frontline personnel, who fight against this disease on a daily basis, shall also be defined and finalised.
It is also a priority for the Government to boost the process of acquiring and implementing vaccines against SARS-CoV2, so that we can have the population immunized as soon as possible.
The Executive is also finalizing the process of preparing the necessary financial mechanisms to fund the response to the impact of COVID-19.
The proposals for intervention will soon be submitted to the Council of Ministers for their appreciation and deliberation, with a view to their rapid implementation. END - 15 of March of 2021Extraordinary Meeting of the Council of Ministers of March 15th, 2021Presidency of the Council of Ministersmore
Eighth Constitutional Government
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Press Release
Extraordinary Meeting of the Council of Ministers of March 15th, 2021
The Council of Ministers met, at the Ministry of Finance, in Dili and, after the analysis of the presentation of the coordinators of the Integrated Crisis Management Centre, on the state of the epidemiological situation in Timor-Leste, approved a Government Resolution draft for the maintenance of a health fence in the Municipality of Dili, until April 2nd, 2021, 11:59 p.m.
Thus, the border posts installed in the area of this municipality remain closed and the movement of persons between this municipality and other administrative circumscriptions is prohibited, except in cases duly based on reasons of public security, public health, humanitarian assistance, maintenance of public supply systems or the realization of the public interest. The requests for movement between the municipality of Dili and the other administrative circumscriptions are addressed by the interested parties to the Director of the Integrated Crisis Management Centre, preferably submitted through e-mail.
Persons and property who, under the conditions established in this Government’s Resolution enter or leave the municipality of Dili are obliged to transit through one of the integrated control centres, located at the east, centre and west land entrances, and at maritime and air border posts. These integrated control centres operate on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, between 06:00 a.m. and 04:00 p.m., and their operation is ensured by teams of officials, agents or civil administration workers appointed by the Ministers of the Interior, Health, State Administration and Agriculture and Fisheries, who inform the Director of the Integrated Crisis Management Centre about the identity and contacts of those workers.
The driver and other crew of vehicles authorised to carry goods intended or destining in the municipality of Dili cease their activity in the integrated control centres and shall be replaced by another separate driver or crew, which shall ensure the continuation of transport. Before the replacements of drivers and crews are carried out, the teams of the integrated control centres shall sanitize the interior of the cabins of the land freight vehicles in which the driver and other crew must remain, in accordance with the standards which are by ministerial diploma of the Minister of Health.
Where the movement of goods takes place by means of sea or air transport, crews shall remain inside their vessel or aircraft or, where this is not possible, shall not be absent from the designated international zones of the port or airport, shall keep the mouth and nasal cavities covered by mask, and shall keep a distance of at least three feet from any other individuals.
A Government Resolution draft has also been approved, to maintain the imposition of general home confinement for all persons residing or currently staying in the municipality of Dili, who must remain in their homes or in their temporary accommodation places.
Exceptionally, may be absent from their residence or place of accommodation in Dili persons who have to travel to receive hospital or medical care; to accompany a family member or person in their custody or care to receive hospital care or medical care; to assist other persons who need it for reasons of health, social protection or humanitarian assistance; to file complaints or report crimes with the Public Prosecutor's Office, the Ombudsman's Office for Human Rights and Justice or any criminal police body; to appear in judicial or police proceedings for which they have been notified; to buy food, meals, essential goods or fuel; to make payments for electricity, telecommunications or internet access services; to access financial services; to provide professional activity where it is not dispensed by its superior, in the case of officials, workers or civil servants of the public administration, or by their employer, in the case of workers in the private sector of the economy; to attend funerals, in accordance with this Government Resolution.
These journeys shall last only for the time strictly necessary for the purpose for which they are intended and when they occur for work, persons should have with them a document proving the obligation to be in the workplace.
The movement of public transport throughout the area of the municipality of Dili, namely microlets, biscotas and taxis, is prohibited;
All commercial, industrial, artisanal or private sector services establishments which carry out activity in the municipality of Dili, must remain closed to the public, with the exception of commercial establishments selling food, water and other first necessity goods, including supermarkets, minimarkets or kiosks; medical or medical care establishments, establishments providing social protection services; pharmacies; resale stations of fuel or gas; commercial establishments where payments are made relating to the supply of electricity, internet access or telecommunications; media; hotel establishments and the like, in accordance with the rules set out in this Government’s Resolution; restaurants, warungs and the like, in accordance with the rules set out in this Government’s Resolution; financial institutions, including banks and entities licensed for international money transfers; construction companies or construction-related activities that are public procurement contractors; companies providing technical services for the maintenance, repair or operation of power plants or the national electricity grid; land, sea and air cargo transport companies; establishments selling funeral materials or providing funeral services, in accordance with the rules set out in this Government Resolution; pest control services companies; companies providing sanitation and sewage cleaning services.
Workers and customers of these commercial establishments and companies, before accessing them shall sanitize their hands and cover the nose and mouth a with mask. For as long as they remain within those establishments and companies, they shall remain wearing a mask covering mouth and nose, keeping at least three feet from other individuals with whom they do not live in common economy, and shall sanitise their hands frequently. While waiting to enter the establishments, customers must wait outside, keeping a distance of at least three feet from other persons with whom they do not live in common economy;
Commercial, industrial, artisanal or private sector service establishments of the economy which are closed to the public, may develop their activity through home delivery services.
Restaurants and the like may only provide meals at their own doors, for take away , for consumption at home or at the place of temporary accommodation or through delivery for home or hotel establishments. Persons staying in a hotel must have their meals in their rooms.
The Municipal markets of Dili, Manleuana and Taibessi, remain operational, and their operators and users, before accessing the interior of the markets, shall sanitize their hands and remain with a mask covering mouth and nose, and keep at least three feet from other individuals with whom they do not live in common economy. Where security forces find it is not possible to maintain the distance of at least three feet between users, they shall prevent new users from accessing the market grounds until the number of users allows comply with that distance.
Street vendors of essential goods or services, in particular food products, especially vegetables, as well as traders who carry out their activities at fairs, shall remain with a face mask covering mouth and nose, frequently sanitise their hands, maintain a distance of at least three feet from other street vendors or their customers, and prevent the formation of agglomerations of persons near the place where they carry out their activity.
The organisation and holding of funeral ceremonies involving the participation of more than ten persons, is prohibited. In funerals with up to ten persons, during the ceremonies, all persons must wear a face mask covering mouth and nose and maintain at least three feet from other persons present at the ceremony.
The police authorities monitor compliance with the rules contained in this Government’s Resolution and warn the offenders that their persistence in non-compliance with this rules may become a crime of disobedience. The police authorities shall inform the Public Prosecutor's Office of the identity of persons who, after the warning provided for in the preceding sentence, persist in flouting the rules set out in this Government’s Resolution. In cases where the rules set out in this Government’s Resolution are disregarded by foreigners, the police authorities shall communicate their identity to the Migration Service.
The Government Resolution drafts for the imposition of heath fences and mandatory confinement in the municipalities of Baucau and Viqueque, until March 29th, 2021, were also approved. The rules of application of health fences and mandatory confinement in these two municipalities are similar those of the municipality of Dili, with the appropriate adjustments and adaptations to the reality of these two municipalities. END - 10 of March of 2021Meeting of the Council of Ministers on March 10th, 2021Presidency of the Council of Ministersmore
Eighth Constitutional Government
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Press Release
Meeting of the Council of Ministers on March 10th, 2021
The Council of Ministers met, at the Ministry of Finance, in Dili, and approved the Law Proposal draft for the first amendment to Law 6/2016, of May 25th, on the Voters Registration Law, presented by the Minister of State Administration, Miguel Pereira de Carvalho. With this amendment, whoever loses or damages their electoral card three or more times is subject to the payment of a fee for the issuance of a new card. In order to ensure greater security in the voter registration, the possibility of cross-checking data with the Ministry of Finance is also legally provided for, in addition to the ministries previously provided for. The baptismal certificate and personal card of the Islamic community are no longer accepted for registration purposes and other elements are added to the voters card and voters registration database. In order to ensure correct voters identification, the possibility of collecting biometric data as voters identification data is now foreseen.
The Law Proposal draft for the third amendment to Law 5/2006, of December 28th, on the Electoral Administrative Bodies, also presented by the Minister of State Administration, was also approved. This Law Proposal draft intends to adapt to the content of new legal diplomas and to the specification of some existing ambiguous contents, as well as to ensure the coordination in terms of functions between the two electoral bodies, the National Elections Commission (CNE – Portuguese acronym) and the Technical Secretariat of the Electoral Administration (STAE – Portuguese acronym).
After the presentation, by the Prime Minister, Taur Matan Ruak, on the epidemiological situation in the Municipality of Covalima, the Council of Ministers decided to remove the imposition of a health fence in this municipality, except in the Administrative Post of Fatumean, which will remain until March 21st. Public Administration services and schools in this municipality will remain closed until the March 13th, according to the determinations of the responsible Government members.
The Council of Ministers also decided on the first amendment to Government Resolution 12/2021, of March 8th, which imposes a health fence and lockdown in the Municipality of Dili, until March 15th, 11:59 a.m. With this amendment, it is also forbidden to travel, by land, sea, or air, into this municipality, except in cases duly based on security, public health, humanitarian or other reasons, that prove necessary for the realization of the public interest, authorized by the Minister of the Interior. It also clarifies that the disrespect to the orders and instructions issued by the competent authorities for the application of the rules contained in this resolution may import criminal liability of the infringer, in accordance with the Penal Code. During this resolution’s term, collective passenger transportation is suspended. The Coordinating Minister of Economic Affairs and the Minister of Tourism, Trade and Industry, through joint order, will define which economic activities and services should be closed, and what rules of operation for activities that may remain in operation.
Lastly, the Coordinating Minister of Economic Affairs, Joaquim Amaral and the Secretary of State for the Environment, Demétrio do Amaral de Carvalho, made a preliminary presentation to the Council of Ministers on Timor-Leste’s National Adaptation Plan for climate risks and for the creation of climate resilience. This plan presents a set of measures that aim to address the threats caused by the climate change and to reduce the impacts of national vulnerabilities, such as sea level rise, floods, strong winds, extreme rainfall, drought and global warming. END
- 09 of March of 2021Members of the Council of Ministers test negative for COVID-19Members of the Council of Ministers test negative for COVID-19more
09 of March of 2021Extraordinary Meeting of the Council of Ministers of March 8th, 2021Presidency of the Council of Ministersmore
Eighth Constitutional Government
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Press Release
Extraordinary Meeting of the Council of Ministers of March 8th, 2021
The Council of Ministers met, at the Ministry of Finance, in Dili, and, after analysing the presentation that the Integrated Crisis Management Centre’s Situation Room gave, on the status of SARS-CoV-2 in the country and the high probability of community transmission situations, the Government decided to impose a mandatory health fence and confinement in the municipality of Dili, for seven days, from March 9th, 2021, 00:00 a.m. until March 15th, 2021, 11:59 p.m., with the possibility of extension for another seven days.
Thus, it is forbidden to travel, by land, sea or air, outside this municipality, except in duly based cases for reasons of safety, public health, humanitarian or other that prove necessary for the accomplishment of the public interest, authorized by the Minister of the Interior.
General home confinement of the population residing in the municipality of Dili is imposed, without prejudice to travel outside the residence when this is justified by reasons of imperative need for medical assistance of the person itself or of family members who are in their custody or care; participating in judicial or police proceedings, for which they are notified; purchase of goods or payment of essential services, such as the purchase of food, payment of electricity supply or payment of telecommunications services and internet access; and compliance with professional obligations which have not been waived by their employer.
The members of the Government and the highest executive body of public legal persons of indirect administration shall identify officials, agents and public administration workers who are responsible for ensuring essential services and who are not exempted from the duty to show up at their workplace.
The Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs and the Minister for Tourism, Commerce and Industry approve, by joint order, the model for identifying private sector workers who are not exempted by their employer from the duty to show up at their workplace.
It is forbidden to hold any events of a social, cultural, sporting or religious nature that imply the agglomeration of people.
The compliance with the duties arising from the previously provided will be supervised by the police forces.
Finally, the Council of Ministers approved the Vaccination Plan Against COVID-19, presented by the Vice Prime-Minister and Minister of Social Solidarity and Inclusion, Armanda Berta dos Santos, and the Interministerial Commission for the Preparation and Coordination of the Implementation of the Vaccination Plan Against COVID-19. According to the roadmap presented, the first 33,600 doses are expected to arrive in Timor-Leste in the fourth week of March 2021, and the launch of the first vaccination phase will begin in the second week of April. All persons over 18 years of age are expected to be vaccinated by the end of 2021. The vaccination of minors under 18 is expected to be carried out in 2022, but their planning is still dependent on the technical recommendation of the World Health Organization. Planning and preparation activities for the implementation of the vaccination plan are underway, such as preparation of storage condition and training of teams. END- 02 of March of 2021Meeting of the Council of Ministers on March 2nd, 2021Presidency of the Council of Ministersmore
Eighth Constitutional Government
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Press Release
Meeting of the Council of Ministers on March 2nd, 2021
The Council of Ministers met, at Government Palace, in Dili, and approved four Government Decree drafts, presented by The Minister of Public Works, Salvador Soares dos Reis Pires, concerning the value of the remuneration of the members of the governing bodies of the Timor-Leste Electricity Public Company (EDTL,EP) and Bee Timor-Leste Public Company (BTL, EP) and of the National Authority for Electricity Public Institute (ANE,IP) and the National Authority for Water and Sanitation Public Institute (ANAS, IP). Together with these Government Decrees, are also approved the values of attendance vouchers that members of the Board of Directors and members of the Fiscal Council are entitled to receive for their participation in the meetings of the bodies of these public companies and public institutes. The approved values may be subject to amendment, in accordance with the approval of the future remuneration regime applicable to the indirect administration of the State.
It was also approved the Government Decree draft, presented by the Prime Minister, Taur Matan Ruak, on the measures to implement the state of emergency, renewed by the Decree of the President of the Republic No. 15/2021, of March 1st, to respond to the pandemic of COVID-19. The state of emergency, now renewed, covers the entire national territory and is in effect between March 4th, 2021, 00:00 a.m. and April 2nd, 2021, 11:59 p.m.
Thus, the majority of measures already adopted and that are being implemented will remain, namely the ban on land border crossing for traditional or customary purposes and for access to regulated markets; the obligation of all international circulation to take place through border posts, which may be closed by decision of the Minister of the Interior, when security or public health reasons justify it; the subjection of all individuals who want to enter or leave the territory to sanitary control, preventing international circulation to all those who show symptoms of infection by SARS-CoV-2 or COVID-19; the imposition of mandatory prophylactic isolation (quarantine) on all those who enter national territory; and subjection of all individuals to whom COVID-19 has been diagnosed, with therapeutic isolation.
During the term of the present diploma, all individuals residing in Timor-Leste are obliged to maintain a distance of, at least, one meter or three feet from other individuals with whom they do not live in a common economy; to wear a face mask that covers their nose and mouth when they have to access or stay in public or private premises for collective use, and to sanitize their hands when they intend to enter commercial, industrial or service establishments or buildings where public administration services operate.
It is now accepted the possibility of temporary suspension of the in-person teaching and learning processes, if the government department responsible for public health recommends it for the purpose of reducing the risk of transmission of SARS-CoV-2.
This Government Decree provides that the relatives of the staff of the diplomatic missions accredited in Dili may also comply with the period of prophylactic isolation in a place to be designated by the Ministry of Health or at their home.
The Council of Ministers also approved the Government Resolution draft that renews the imposition of a sanitary fence in the municipality of Covalima, with travel between this municipality and the other municipalities being prohibited between March 4th, 2021, 00:00 a.m. and April 2nd, 2021, 11:59 p.m. The Minister of the Interior may also authorize the movement of persons or goods, based on humanitarian, public health protection, public security or public interest reasons, and shall define under what conditions they are carried out.
Lastly, the Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Planning , José Maria dos Reis, made a presentation on the planning and budgeting of new projects for the year 2022 and on the execution of projects for the year 2021 from the Infrastructure Fund. The main objective of the presentation was to analyse the process and mechanisms for preparing, submitting and implementing projects of the ministerial lines to be carried out through the Infrastructure Fund. END - 26 of February of 2021Extraordinary Meeting of the Council of Ministers of February 26th, 2021Presidency of the Council of Ministersmore
Eighth Constitutional Government
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Press Release
Extraordinary Meeting of the Council of Ministers of February 26th, 2021
The Council of Ministers met, at the Government Palace, in Dili, and analysed a presentation given by the heads of the Integrated Crisis Management Centre’s Situation Room, on the current situation of the new Coronavirus in Timor-Leste. According to the data presented, in the context of the mass tests already performed, a total of 2648 samples were collected, in Bobonaro, Covalima and in the Special Administrative Region of Oé-Cusse Ambeno (RAEOA), of which 7 (seven) had a positive result. The seven cases were found at the Administrative Post of Fatumean, in Covalima municipality, where, for the first time, local transmission was registered. However, it was already possible to determine the origin of the outbreak, and there is no indication that it has spread to other places. END
