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Timor-Leste scored 44 points in the 2025 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), released on February 10^th, by the non-governmental organisation Transparency International, maintaining last year’s score and ranking 73rd among 182 countries and territories assessed. The result confirms the stability of progress made in recent years and keeps the country in line with the Asia-Pacific regional average and above the global average. 

Transparency International, in a press release, notes that Timor-Leste has shown “a consistent and statistically significant increase since 2012, due to structural reforms that have strengthened oversight institutions.”

Within ASEAN, Timor-Leste ranks 73rd globally, ahead of Vietnam (83rd), Indonesia (115th), Laos (115th), Thailand (123rd), the Philippines (131st), Cambodia (158th), and Myanmar (168th), behind only Singapore (3rd), Brunei Darussalam (38th), and Malaysia (57th).

Among the CPLP member states, only Cape Verde (35th), Portugal (43rd), and São Tomé and Príncipe (67th) rank higher. Timor-Leste ranks ahead of Brazil (107th), Angola (121st), Mozambique (166th), Guinea-Bissau (166th), and Equatorial Guinea (172nd).

In 2015, Timor-Leste scored 28 points and ranked 123rd. The 50-place rise in the ranking over the last decade indicates sustained improvement in public sector integrity indicators.

The CPI is the oldest and most comprehensive tool for measuring corruption in the world, analysing levels of corruption in the public sector across 82 countries and territories, scoring them from 0 (perceived as very corrupt) to 100 (very transparent), based on the perceptions of experts and business executives regarding levels of corruption in the public sector.

The Government reaffirms its commitment to strengthening the rule of law, transparency in public management, and the consolidation of control institutions, and to pursuing measures to reinforce integrity and accountability in public administration.

Presidência do Conselho de Ministros

 Porta-Voz do Governo de Timor-Leste

IX Governo Constitucional

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Comunicado de Imprensa

Tolerância de ponto nos dias 17 e 18 de fevereiro de 2026 por ocasião do Ano Novo Chinês e da Quarta-Feira de Cinzas

Considerando que a presença da comunidade chinesa no nosso país é de vários séculos e tem uma importância económica e social, que merece a gratidão e o reconhecimento dos timorenses;

Considerando que o Ano Novo Chinês é a cerimónia mais importante de todo o calendário chinês, também conhecida como a “Festa da Primavera”, é uma data também festejada em muitos países do continente asiático e, no ano em curso é celebrado no dia 17 de fevereiro;

Tendo em consideração que a referida efeméride é celebrada como uma festa familiar e um tempo dedicado a comemorações, das quais se destacam as cerimónias religiosas de agradecimento à terra, aos céus, aos deuses do lar e aos antepassados;

Tendo também em consideração que, nos termos da alínea a) do n.º 2 do artigo 5.º da Lei n.º 10/2005, de 10 de agosto, alterada pelas Leis n.ºs 3/2016, de 25 de maio, e 10/2023, de 5 de abril, a “Quarta-Feira de Cinzas” é uma data oficial comemorativa, de data variável em cada ano;

Considerando que no presente ano a “Quarta-Feira de Cinzas” se assinala no dia 18 de fevereiro;

Atendendo à importância que a celebração da “Quarta-Feira de Cinzas” tem para um grande número de crentes, os quais participam nas cerimónias religiosas que se realizam por ocasião deste dia;

Tendo em conta que o n.^o 1 do artigo 7.^o da Lei n.^o 10/2005, de 10 de agosto, alterada pelas Leis n.^os 3/2016, de 25 de maio, e 10/2023, de 5 de abril, dispõe que a “tolerância de ponto é a faculdade geral de os trabalhadores ou dado conjunto de trabalhadores de determinado serviço, empresa ou organismo não comparecerem ao trabalho ou dele se ausentarem durante parte da jornada diária de trabalho, mediante autorização superior prévia, sem perda de remuneração e quaisquer direitos ou regalias inerentes à relação de trabalho”;

Considerando que a alínea c) do n.^o 2 do artigo 7.^o da Lei n.^o 10/2005, de 10 de agosto, alterada pelas Leis n.^os 3/2016, de 25 de maio, e 10/2023, de 5 de abril, estabelece que a tolerância de ponto pode ser concedida “por motivo de celebração de data religiosa por trabalhador que professe religião cujas datas festivas não estejam contempladas na presente lei como feriados nacionais ou datas oficiais comemorativas”;

Tendo em consideração que, de acordo com o disposto na alínea d) do n.^o 6 do artigo 7.^o da Lei n.^o 10/2005, de 10 de agosto, alterada pelas Leis n.^os 3/2016, de 25 de maio, e 10/2023, de 5 de abril, compete ao Primeiro-Ministro conceder tolerância de ponto aos “funcionários e agentes dos ministérios ou serviços deles dependentes, bem como dos institutos e organismos integrados na administração indireta do Estado”,

Assim, ao abrigo do disposto nas alíneas a) e b) do n.^o 2 e na alínea d) do n.^o 6 do artigo 7.^o da Lei n.^o 10/2005, de 10 de agosto, alterada pelas Leis n.^os 3/2016, de 25 de maio, e 10/2023, de 5 de abril, o Primeiro-Ministro, através do Despacho n.º 03 /PM/II/2026, determina o seguinte:

1. É concedida tolerância de ponto nos dias 17 e 18 de fevereiro, o dia todo.
2. O presente despacho abrange todos os funcionários, agentes e trabalhadores que prestem atividade nos serviços da administração direta do Estado, sejam centrais ou desconcentrados, ou nos organismos da administração indireta.
3. Excetuam-se do número anterior os recursos humanos dos serviços públicos que pela natureza da atividade que desenvolvem devam manter-se em funcionamento naquele período.
4. Sem prejuízo da continuidade e da qualidade do serviço público a prestar, os dirigentes máximos dos serviços referidos no número anterior devem promover a equivalente dispensa do dever de assiduidade dos respetivos recursos humanos, em dia a fixar oportunamente. FIM

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Presidency of the Council of Ministers

Spokesperson of the Government of Timor-Leste

Ninth Constitutional Government

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Press Release

Meeting of the Council of Ministers on February 11th 2026

The Council of Ministers met at the Government Palace in Dili and approved the draft Law Proposal presented by the Minister of Justice, Sérgio de Jesus Fernandes da Costa Hornai, to establish the Timor-Leste Bar Association (OATL – acronym in Portuguese) and to approve its statutes.

The purpose of this law is to establish the Timor-Leste Bar Association as a public professional association responsible for regulating access to and the practice of the legal profession, representing the profession, and defining the rules applicable to the organisation, functioning, and discipline of lawyers and trainee lawyers.

The initiative establishes the legal framework for the OATL, defining its powers, bodies, competencies, and operating mechanisms, as well as the principles governing the practice of the profession, thereby strengthening the organisation of the legal profession and consolidating the national justice system.

The law also approves the Legal Regime for Law Firms, which defines the conditions for the incorporation, organisation, and operation of these firms, with the aim of regulating the collective practice of law, promoting greater transparency, and ensuring compliance with professional and ethical rules.

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Following a proposal by the Minister of Public Works, Samuel Marçal, the Council of Ministers authorised an expenditure of US$121.9 million to transfer funds from the General State Budget to EDTL, EP, under the “802 Electricity” programme, with a view to ensuring the public service of electricity supply.

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Also at the proposal of the Minister of Public Works, Samuel Marçal, the Council of Ministers decided to authorise the expenditure and to open a procurement procedure for the construction of a drinking water supply system in Baucau, a structural project designed to ensure the regular and safe supply of water fit for human consumption to the population of that municipality.

The project, based on previously validated technical studies, is estimated to cost approximately US$23.4 million and aims to improve public health and the quality of life for local communities.

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The draft Decree-Law presented by Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão and Minister of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers Agio Pereira on the Special Career Regime for Professional Firefighters in Timor-Leste was approved.

With this decree-law, the Government aims to establish a specific status for professional firefighters in Timor-Leste, recognising the specialised nature of their duties as specialised civil protection agents and the importance of their role in protecting human life and property and responding to emergencies, accidents, and disasters throughout the country.

The proposed regime aims to define the professional firefighter career as a special civil service, establishing its hierarchical structure, categories, and positions, as well as the rules for recruitment, training, progression, and promotion. With this initiative, the Government seeks to enhance and dignify the career, ensure greater stability and a professional framework, and strengthen the response capacity of the national civil protection system.

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The Council of Ministers approved the draft Government Resolution, presented by the Minister of the Interior, Francisco da Costa Guterres, regarding the temporary suspension and review of the Public Competition for Admission to the Training Course for Officers of the National Police of Timor-Leste (PNTL).

With this decision, the Government aims to ensure the transparency, legality, and credibility of the recruitment process, taking into account the doubts and concerns raised by candidates and various entities regarding compliance with certain requirements and the regularity of certain stages of the competition. In this regard, the Government Resolution provides for the temporary suspension of the competition and the strengthening of supervisory and inspection mechanisms.

The decision also provides for the restructuring of the Monitoring and Oversight Commission, including the integration of independent national and international members, and a comprehensive review of all stages of the tender process, with a view to fully ascertaining the facts and, where appropriate, adopting corrective measures. This procedure aims to strengthen citizens’ trust in public institutions and ensure that access to the National Police of Timor-Leste is fair, impartial, and in accordance with the law.

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The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Bendito dos Santos Freitas, gave a presentation on the programme and budgetary plan for the pro tempore Presidency of the Community of Portuguese-speaking Countries (CPLP – acronym in Portuguese), assumed by Timor-Leste for the period 2026-2027. Information was provided on the series of ministerial meetings, technical meetings, sectoral initiatives, and institutional activities planned, including the celebrations for the 30th anniversary of the CPLP, which will be marked on July 17, as well as the respective schedules, venues, and funding parameters.

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Lastly, the Council of Ministers approved the theme “Consolidation of the Democratic Rule of Law – Challenges for the CPLP” for the pro tempore Presidency of the international Portuguese-speaking organisation, assumed by Timor-Leste for the period 2026-2027. END

9.00 am, Government Palace

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The Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Culture, José Honório da Costa Pereira Jerónimo, participated today, February 10^th, 2026, in the recording of a new episode of the Government Page TV show, as part of a series of interviews with members of the 9th Constitutional Government. 

During the interview, Minister José Honório outlined the main guidelines and challenges of national policy for higher education, science, and technology, with an emphasis on improving the quality of university education, strengthening the qualifications of teaching staff, promoting equal access to higher education, and strengthening the link between educational institutions and the productive sector.

The interview also focused on the coordination and regulation of the higher education system, the expansion of technical higher education across different regions of the country, and international cooperation in academic and scientific fields.

Promoted by the Office of the Government Spokesperson, led by the Minister of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, Agio Pereira, the “Government Page” TV show is produced in partnership with Radio and Television of Timor-Leste and the national media to strengthen government transparency, accountability, and citizens’ access to information on the policies and decisions of the Executive.

The episode featuring the Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Culture will be broadcast shortly on RTTL and on the Government’s digital platforms and social media channels. Previously aired episodes are available on the official YouTube channel @PCMPAGINADOGOVERNOTIMORLESTE.

 

▶️ Click here to watch all episodes on Youtube

“Página do Governo”