Meeting of the Council of Ministers on july 7, 2021
Presidency of the Council of Ministers
Eighth Constitutional Government
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Press Release
Meeting of the Council of Ministers on July 7, 2021
The Council of Ministers met, in the Government Palace, in Dili and, after analysing the presentation of the national epidemiological status by the Situation Room of the Integrated Centre for Crisis Management, the Council of Ministers decided to approve the draft Government Resolution which maintains the imposition of the sanitary fence in the municipality of Dili for 7 more days, until July 15th. Thus, the prohibition of people circulation between the Dili municipality and other administrative districts is maintained, except in duly justified cases for reasons of public safety, public health, humanitarian assistance, maintenance of the public supply systems or the achievement of public interest. Individuals who provide proof of full vaccination (two doses) against COVID-19, as well as minors under six years of age accompanying them, are not covered by this prohibition of circulation.
The Council of Minister decided not to renew the imposition of the sanitary fence in the Municipality of Baucau.
Also approved was the draft Decree-Law, presented by the Minister of Finance, Rui Augusto Gomes, that creates extraordinary assistance for the integration into the labour market of beneficiaries of "cash for work" programmes.
To ensure that "work for pay" programmes can have a longer lasting impact, the insertion of these workers into the labour market is promoted, encouraging their employment through financial support to companies and workers. These programmes were created to help the clean-up and reconstruction efforts using local labour, while providing a source of income for thousands of unemployed workers.
The extraordinary assistance created by this legislation is similar to that created by the Supplementary Budget for workers in general:
- The extraordinary labour market integration allowance is granted to employers who enter into a contract valid for at least six months with a participant in "work for pay". The amount of the allowance is equal to 70% of the employee's salary;
- Partial exemption from the duty to pay social security contributions, by the company and by the employee; and
- Extraordinary unemployment allowance, with a value of 40% of the value of the contractual remuneration relative to the 1st level that constitutes the basis of the contribution to social security upon optional membership.
The assistance will be implemented by the National Social Security Institute in coordination with SEFOPE and will be financed by the COVID-19 Fund.
The Council of Ministers approved, with amendments, the draft Government Resolution, presented by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Adaljiza Albertina Xavier Reis Magno, which grants a donation of USD 50,000 to the initiative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations (UN), entitled "A common agenda as a response to present and future challenges". It is thus a response to the challenge of the UN Secretary-General, who called for a financial contribution from all members of the United Nations, following the declaration commemorating the 75th anniversary of the creation of the UN, which invokes the need to strengthen multilateralism and revitalize the role of the United Nations in today's world.
The Council of Ministers deliberated to nominate Carlito Martins as effective member of the National Elections Commission (CNE) and Elvino Bonaparte do Rêgo as substitute member of CNE, following the proposal presented by the Minister of State Administration, Miguel Pereira de Carvalho.
The Secretary of State for Equality and Inclusion, Maria José da Fonseca Monteiro de Jesus, presented to the Council of Ministers the draft report on the implementation of the 2020 National Action Plan Against Gender-Based Violence (PAN-VBG). The report presents the specific actions implemented in 2020 and the respective challenges and results achieved in each pillar of the PAN-VBG. The four pillars of the PAN-VBG are: prevention of GBV; provision of services for victims; access to justice for victims; and coordination, monitoring and evaluation of the initiatives developed.
Lastly, the Vice Prime Minister, Armanda Berta dos Santos and the Minister of Health, Odete Maria Freitas Belo, responsible for leading the Interministerial Commission for the Preparation and Coordination of Implementation of the Vaccination Plan against COVID-19, presented to the Council of Ministers the status of implementation of the vaccination campaign. Until the June 6th, a total of 359,800 vaccine doses were received, of which 243,949 have already been administered. Through the COVAX mechanism, a total of 124,800 doses of AstraZeneca vaccine arrived, while Australia offered 135,000 doses of AstraZeneca vaccine and China donated 100,000 doses of Sinovac vaccine. Of the total 243,949 doses administered nationally, 224,155 were AstraZeneca vaccines and 19,797 Sinovac. At national level, 217,677 people (28.7%) have already received the first dose and 26,272 people (3.5%) have completed the vaccination. In Dili Municipality, 115,737 people (54.1%) have already received the first dose of the vaccine against COVID-19 and 14,418 people have already received both doses (6.74%). END
