Media Releases
- 13 of July of 2022Meeting of the Council of Ministers on July 13th, 2022Presidency of the Council of Ministersmore
Eighth Constitutional Government
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Press Release
Meeting of the Council of Ministers on July 13th, 2022
The Council of Ministers met, at the Government Palace, in Dili, and approved the draft Decree-Law, presented by the Minister of Defence, Filomeno da Paixão de Jesus, referring to the Organic Statute of the Falintil Unit, establishing its structure and attributions. The Falintil Unit, integrated into the central structure of FALINTIL-Forças de Defesa de Timor-Leste (Timor-Leste Defence Forces), is a Special Operations Unit. Its main mission is to train military personnel in the specific area of special operations and to prepare a Special Operations Force, of reduced manpower, specially organized and composed of specially selected, trained and equipped personnel, to operate under physically and psychologically demanding conditions in the fulfilment of missions that require non-conventional techniques and ways of operation.
The draft Decree-Law presented by the Minister of Tourism, Commerce and Industry, José Lucas do Carmo da Silva, for the creation of the public limited liability company GESPIN - Gestão de Parques Industriais, SA, was approved. To promote private initiative activity in the industrial sector, the Government intends to create this public limited company, which will be responsible for promoting, installing and managing industrial parks.
Also approved was the draft Government Resolution presented by the Vice-Prime Minister, and Minister of Planning and Territory, José Maria dos Reis, which aims to create the Interministerial Coordinating Commission for the Establishment of the Timor-Leste Engineering Laboratory, with the responsibility to present to the Council of Ministers, within three months, the Master Plan for the establishment of the Timor-Leste Engineering Laboratory. The commission, chaired by the Vice-Prime Minister, also comprises the Minister of Public Works and the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Culture.
The Council of Ministers approved the draft Government Resolution, presented by the Minister of State Administration, Miguel Pereira de Carvalho, concerning the mission to support the voter registration process in Guinea-Bissau. The approved Government Resolution appoints Lino de Jesus Torrezão as the Timor-Leste Government’s Special Representative with the Government of Guinea-Bissau to proceed with the identification of the needs of this State for the accomplishment of free and fair elections, next December 18th, 2022.
The Council of Ministers has authorised the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries to sign a memorandum of understanding on agricultural cooperation with the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Indonesia, to expand the existing framework of bilateral cooperation in the agricultural sector, including the technical and scientific areas.
The Minister of Tourism, Commerce and Industry, José Lucas do Carmo da Silva, was authorised by the Council of Ministers to sign two memorandums of understanding with the Government of Indonesia, one in the area of trade and the other on standardization, conformity assessment and metrology.
The Council of Ministers also authorized the Minister of Transport and Communications, José Agustinho da Silva, to sign a memorandum of understanding with the Ministry of Transport of the Republic of Indonesia on the Cross Border Movement of Commercial Buses. This memorandum aims to support cross-border trade and cooperation between the two countries, allowing for the promotion, development and strengthening of trade, investment, tourism and cultural interchange between the two countries, through the establishment of an integrated and efficient transport system that is capable of encouraging economic growth and development in Timor-Leste, but also with benefits to Indonesia.
The Minister of Transport and Communications was also authorized to sign a memorandum of understanding between his ministry and the Agency of Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics of the Republic of Indonesia on cooperation in the field of meteorology, climatology and geophysics. The partnership foreseen in this memorandum aims to support the development of meteorology, climatology, and geophysics, an essential sector for Timor-Leste, namely in areas such as the calibration of meteorological and seismological equipment and the training of human resources.
The Council of Ministers also authorized the Minister of Transport and Communications to sign a memorandum of understanding with the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology of the Republic of Indonesia for cooperation in the area of communications and information technology. The expansion and improvement of the communications and information technology sector imply collaboration with other countries so that proactively and assertively both may increase the effectiveness of their internal and external performance and in this sense, it becomes necessary to establish bases for bilateral coordination and cooperation in the communications and information technology sector.
The Council of Ministers approved the draft Decree-Law, presented by the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Culture, Longuinhos dos Santos, on the support measures for the movement of Timorese students attending higher education abroad to return to Timor-Leste or to go abroad in the occurrence of situations of a pandemic, epidemic, natural disaster or catastrophe, serious illness or armed conflict. With the approval of this diploma, in the event of the occurrence of the referred situations, the State will facilitate the necessary trips for the return to Timor-Leste of students, of Timorese nationality, who are actively attending higher education abroad in accredited higher education institutions, or their departure for the final destination of their higher education studies. The State will pay for the travel by air, sea or road transportation of the student during his or her return to or departure from Timor-Leste, and also for accommodation or temporary stay due to evacuations, quarantine or medical or hospital treatment.
The Minister of Finance, Rui Augusto Gomes, has received authorisation to sign a project agreement with the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOIKA), for the development of the project "YEES - Youth Employment and Entrepreneurship Skills". Under this memorandum the Republic of Korea will make a financial contribution of six million two hundred thousand dollars, to fund the development of youth in obtaining skills, competencies and knowledge to be employed, offer services available to provide holistic support in increasing employability and help youth start or expand their businesses. The project will run for six years from 2022 to 2027 and will be implemented in four municipalities, Dili, Baucau, Ermera and Liquica.
The Council of Ministers approved the draft Decree-Law amending the Organic Law of the National Police of Timor-Leste. This draft Decree-Law had already been subject to deliberation in the meeting of the Council of Ministers on May 25th 2022, however, due to the introduction of some changes in the final wording phase, it became necessary to submit it to a new deliberation.
The draft Decree-Law for the second amendment to Decree-Law No. 26/2021, of November 26th, as amended by Decree-Law No. 12/2022, of March 17th, on exceptional and temporary measures for health surveillance in response to the COVID-19 pandemic disease, was also approved. With this amendment, the exceptional measures are extended until November 13th, 2022.
Lastly, the Minister of Tourism, Commerce and Industry, José Lucas do Carmo da Silva, as the National Authority for Expo Dubai 2020 (ANED-TL) and the General Coordinator for Expo Dubai 2020, Manuel Vong, made a presentation to the Council of Ministers on the results of Timor-Leste participation in Dubai Expo 2020. Timor-Leste pavilion, in the first world exposition taking place in the Middle East, was visited by more than 340 thousand people, between October 1st and March 31st 2022. During this period, several marketing and promotion actions were carried out to promote investment in Timor-Leste, in the areas of tourism and hospitality, agriculture and fisheries, connectivity, logistics and transport and oil, gas and minerals. There were also lectures and meetings with middle eastern rulers and private sector representatives. During the event, an air services agreement was also signed with the Government of the United Arab Emirates. END - 09 of July of 2022Timor-Leste regrets the passing away of José Eduardo dos SantosPresidency of the Council of Ministersmore
Eighth Constitutional Government
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Dili, July 9, 2022
Press Release
Timor-Leste regrets the passing away of José Eduardo dos Santos
available soon - 08 of July of 2022Government expresses condolences on the death of former Prime Minister of Japan Shinzo AbePresidency of the Council of Ministersmore
Eighth Constitutional Government
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Dili, July 8, 2022
Press Release
Government expresses condolences on the death of former Prime Minister of Japan Shinzo Abe
The Government of Timor-Leste received with deep regret the news of the death of the former Prime Minister of Japan, Shinzo Abe, this Friday, after being shot while addressing a campaign event, in Nara, a city in the west of Japan.
Shinzo Abe, was 67 years old and was the longest-serving Prime Minister in Japan, first between 2006 and 2007 and then between 2012 and 2020, when he stepped down due to a health problem.
Prime Minister Taur Matan Ruak, on March 15th, 2016, then President of the Republic, on his official visit to Japan, was received by then Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and had the opportunity to acknowledge his commitment to deepening cooperation ties with Timor-Leste.
The Spokesperson of the Government, Minister Fidelis Magalhães, on behalf of the Council of Ministers and the entire Government, conveys his sincere condolences to the family of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and reiterates his friendship and strong solidarity with the Government and all the people of Japan. END - 08 of July of 2022Timor-Leste welcomes the Australian Government's decision to discontinue the prosecution of Mr Bernard CollaeryPresidency of the Council of Ministersmore
Eighth Constitutional Government
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Dili, July 8, 2022
Press Release
Timor-Leste welcomes the Australian Government's decision of dropping the prosecution against Bernard Collaery
The 8th Constitutional Government congratulates the decision announced yesterday by the Australian Attorney-General, Mark Dreyfus, to discontinue the prosecution of Mr Bernard Collaery, four years after he was accused of divulging confidential information about Australia's alleged spying operation in Timor-Leste.
The Attorney-General, Hon. Mark Dreyfus QC MP, in announcing the decision expressed that it took into account the "commitment to protecting Australia’s national interest, including our national security and Australia’s relationships with our close neighbours ".
The Government of Timor-Leste acknowledges and appreciates the contribution of Mr Bernard Collaery and his client, a former spy known as Witness K, in the process that established the definitive maritime boundaries between Timor-Leste and Australia in the Timor Sea, culminating in the signing of the treaty between the two countries on March 6th, 2018.
Timor-Leste also celebrates and acknowledges the contribution of the Australian people who, over time, have supported and contributed to the closure of this prosecution and to reaching the maritime boundary delimitation agreement with Australia.
The Spokesperson of the Government, the Minister of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, Fidelis Manuel Leite Magalhães, on behalf of the Council of Ministers and the entire Government, congratulates the Australian Government for this fair decision and asserts that this rectification of the error previously committed will contribute to further deepen the friendly relations between the two neighbouring countries.
The 8th Constitutional Government, led by Prime Minister, Taur Matan Ruak, is committed to building a prosperous future, in which Australia is an irreplaceable partner. END
- 06 of July of 2022Meeting of the Council of Ministers on July 6th, 2022Presidency of the Council of Ministersmore
Eighth Constitutional Government
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Press Release
Meeting of the Council of Ministers on July 6th, 2022
The Council of Ministers met, at the Government Palace, in Dili, and approved the draft Law Proposal, presented by the Minister of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, Fidelis Manuel Leite Magalhães, for legislative authorization regarding the establishment of age limit for the working relationship of civil servants and public administrative agents.
With this draft Law Proposal, the Government intends that the National Parliament authorizes it to set the age limit as a cause for termination of work relationship in the Civil Service. Upon reaching the age limit, these civil servants and public administrative agents will be able to retire and request their elderly pension.
This draft Law Proposal aims to establish the necessary mechanisms to allow rejuvenation of the professionals of the National Civil Service, making it possible to bring new skills to the civil service. The renewal of staff in the Public Administration is an essential measure to ensure the improvement of services provided to the population.
The Council of Ministers approved two draft Decree-Laws, presented by the Minister of Education, Youth and Sport, Armindo Maia and the Secretary of State for Youth and Sport, Abrão Saldanha, aiming at:
the establishment of the competencies, composition and functioning of the National Sports Commission (CND – Portuguese acronym). This draft Decree-Law revokes Decree-Law No. 39/2011 of September 21st, which regulated the CND and creates a new structure and framework for the CND, as well as outlining its competencies, composition and operation to continue the process of developing the practice of sports in Timor-Leste.
- make the first amendment to Decree-Law no. 18/2019, of July 11th, which approved the Organic Law of the Secretary of State for Youth and Sports. This draft Decree-Law aims to adapt the Organic Structure of this ministry to the provisions of Decree-Law no. 30/2020, of July 29th, on the organization of the direct and indirect administration of the State. It is also intended to adapt to the ongoing deconcentration and decentralization process, promoting the harmonization between the administrative responsibilities and competencies belonging to the central services of the Secretariat of State for Youth and Sports. The existence of a single Directorate General for Youth and Sport is envisaged, as well as the restructuring and grouping of some national units and directorates.
Finally, the Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Social Solidarity and Inclusion, Armanda Berta dos Santos, gave a presentation to the Council of Ministers on the social affairs platform, to effectively reinforce coordination in this sector. END
- 30 of June of 2022Fighting trafficking in personsPresidency of the Council of Ministersmore
Eighth Constitutional Government
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Press Release
Fighting trafficking in persons
The 8th Constitutional Government is committed and pledged to gather all the necessary efforts to prevent and fight trafficking in persons and to protect and support the victims.
Trafficking in persons is one of the most serious forms of human rights violations. It is a complex phenomenon, mostly transnational, developed by organised criminal networks that take advantage of the victims' vulnerabilities.
The fight against this heinous crime requires not only a solid legal framework but also articulated action by all the entities involved, both national and foreign, strengthening knowledge of the phenomenon, institutional capacity, educational and preventive action among the various stakeholders, protection and assistance to victims and the punishment of traffickers.
Timor-Leste has finalised, in 2009, the process of accession to the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organised Crime and the Additional Protocol to this Convention, concerning the prevention, suppression and punishment of trafficking in persons, especially women and children. This international instrument aims to prevent and fight trafficking in persons, protect and assist the victims of such trafficking while fully respecting their human rights, and promote cooperation among the States Parties to achieve these objectives.
In 2017, the Law on the Prevention and Fight of Trafficking in Persons (Law No. 3/2017 of January 25th) was approved by the National Parliament, which, in addition to measures aimed at preventing and fighting trafficking in persons and protecting and assisting its victims, also introduced the fourth amendment to the Criminal Code, to expand the concept of the crime of trafficking in persons, protect its witnesses, provide for the punishability of legal persons and set the regime of loss of the respective benefits in favour of the State.
During the 8th Constitutional Government's mandate, through Decree-Law 9/2021 of June 30th, a Committee for the Fight against Trafficking in Persons was established, with the mission of coordinating, at the national level, the actions of different entities responsible for the prevention and fight against trafficking in persons, as well as guaranteeing the cooperation with foreign entities in this matter and monitoring the application of the provisions of international conventions that Timor-Leste has signed.
The Government is preparing a national plan against trafficking in persons and has carried out several initiatives in this area, namely the reinforcement of institutional capacity and border management, training and awareness-raising activities, the creation of the National Police Development Programme (TLPDP) and the preparation of an Integrated Criminal Information Management System. END - 30 of June of 2022Convention between the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste and the Portuguese Republic on Social SecurityPresidency of the Council of Ministersmore
Eighth Constitutional Government
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Press Release
Convention between the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste and the Portuguese Republic on Social Security
Given the high mobility in the labour market today, at the international level, with many workers residing and working in foreign countries, it is essential to negotiate agreements between States, which aim to ensure the rights to decent work, with social protection, regardless of the country where the worker lives.
Timor-Leste currently has a high number of citizens living and working abroad, with remittances representing an important income for the budget of many Timorese families. However, because social security regimes differ from country to country and, in the case of contributory regimes, a guarantee period is required to access social benefits, many workers are not entitled to these benefits, even though they have contributed for some time both in the country of origin and eventually also in Timor-Leste.
Therefore, given the number of citizens involved and the excellent historical ties between the two countries, the Governments of Timor-Leste and Portugal decided to sign a Convention on Social Security, which was signed today, June 29th, 2022, by the Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Social Solidarity and Inclusion of Timor-Leste and by the Secretary of State of Social Security of Portugal, representing their respective governments, with full powers granted for that purpose.
The said Convention covers all workers and nationals of the two countries, includes both the contributory and non-contributory social security regimes, and has two fundamental goals: on the one hand, the aggregation of the contributory periods completed in the two countries, allowing "summing up" the periods of work and the social security contributions in the two countries, for compliance with the guarantee periods for access to social benefits of the contributory regimes; on the other hand, to ensure equal treatment between the citizens of the two countries, allowing citizens of one country residing in the other country to benefit from the same rights and be subject to the same obligations as the nationals of that country of residence.
The Convention covers as of now all the benefits of the social security system approved in Timor-Leste, from the contributory and non-contributory regimes, and the equivalent benefits of the Portuguese social security system. In other words, it includes old age, disability and survival pensions and parental allowances of the contributory regime, as well as the old age and disability social pensions (SAII) of the non-contributory regime. It is also provided that new benefits, aimed at protecting other situations such as illness or unemployment, will be integrated when they are approved in Timor-Leste.
Thus, with the present Convention, and when it is ratified, Timorese citizens living in Portugal will be entitled to non-contributory benefits from the Portuguese social security system, while they are resident in that country, under the same conditions as a Portuguese citizen. On the other hand, Timorese workers exercising professional activity in Portugal and making social security contributions in that country will have this time of work and contribution counted in their contribution career, to fulfil the necessary period to be entitled to benefits under the contributory regime.
The Convention on Social Security signed today between Timor-Leste and Portugal represents, therefore, an important step, as it protects the citizens and workers of both countries, and allows labour mobility. ENDS
- 29 of June of 2022Meeting of the Council of Ministers on June 29th, 2022Presidency of the Council of Ministersmore
Eighth Constitutional Government
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Press Release
Meeting of the Council of Ministers on June 29th, 2022
The Council of Ministers met at the Government Palace, in Dili, and approved the draft Government Resolution, presented by the Minister of Justice, Tiago Amaral Sarmento, to appoint Roberto da Costa Pacheco, to exercise the functions of an effective member of the Government in the Superior Council of the Judiciary, for a four-year term. This Government Resolution also designates Digna Amélia Tilman as a substitute member of the Superior Council of the Judiciary. This Council is responsible for managing and disciplining the activity of judicial magistrates and also for appointing, placing, transferring and promoting judges in Timor-Leste. The Superior Council for the Judiciary is presided over by the Judge President of the Supreme Court of Justice and comprises four members, one of whom is appointed by the Government.
The draft Government Decree approving the salary of the Executive Director and the Statutory Auditor of the Ataúro Special Development Fund was approved. The proposed values for the remunerations of the executive and supervisory and control bodies of the Ataúro Special Development Fund have taken into consideration the complexity and volume of work that will have to be executed by them, as well as the value of the budget of the Ataúro Special Development Fund, whose execution and supervision, respectively, will be their responsibility.
The Council of Ministers has decided to approve the amendment to Public Contract No. ICB/018/MOPTC-2017 for the improvement and maintenance work of the Dili - Ainaro Road, Lot 2: Laulara - Solerema section, dated September 10th, 2018, and the authorization of the corresponding expenditure increase. The estimated handover deadline of the work is extended by 365 days from the effective date of the contract, ending on November 16th, 2022, and the price is increased in the amount of US$ 984,188.24, becoming fixed, due to this increase, at US$ 18,839,489.50. The draft resolution was presented by the Minister of Public Works, Abel Pires da Silva.
The draft Decree-Law, presented by the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Culture, Longuinhos dos Santos, aimed at proceeding with the third amendment to Decree-Law No. 7/2012 of 15 February, which approves the Statute of the University Teaching Career, was also approved. With this draft Decree-Law, a set of amendments to the legal regime for the University Teaching Career in Timor-Leste is proposed with a view to its continuous improvement, but always keeping it based on the basic principle of merit in the exercise of teaching activities, linked to research, teaching and contribution to the development of society. Amongst the alterations foreseen in this Decree-Law, the most important are the creation of two new levels in two different categories (B3 and C1+), the adjustment of credits between categories B3 and C3, the guarantee that all the credits obtained from the beginning of the approval of the career to date are considered, the reduction in the number of years of experience qualifying for career progression (five years to just one year) and the distinction between career teachers and contract teachers.
The Council of Ministers also decided to grant full powers to the Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Social Solidarity and Inclusion, Armanda Berta dos Santos, for the signing of the Bilateral Convention on Social Security between the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste and the Portuguese Republic. The purpose of this convention is to protect the workers of both countries, allowing that the time worked in the other country be counted, to fulfil the terms of the guarantee of access to social benefits covered by the Convention. It also ensures that citizens of one of these two countries who reside in the other country benefit from the same social security rights and are subject to the same conditions as the nationals of that country of residence.
Lastly, the Minister of Finance, Rui Augusto Gomes presented to the Council of Ministers the political-legislative options underlying the initiative to create a legal regime for the public-private partnership for diagnostic services. The Timor-Leste Government intends to choose the implementation of a Public-Private Partnership ("PPP"), to make use of the experience and knowledge of private partners, to improve the quality and increase the range and scope of health care provided to the population, regarding laboratory and image diagnosis. END
