Government of Timor-Leste

Presidency of the Council of Ministers

Sixth Constitutional Government

.............................................................................................................................

Dili, April 8h, 2022

Press Release

Day Off on Holy Thursday and the second ballot for the election of the President of the Republic

Whereas Good Friday and Easter are to be celebrated on April 15^th and 17^th respectively;

Whereas those dates are expressly provided for in Law No. 10/2005, of August 10^th, as amended by Law No. 3/2016, of May 25^th, as national holidays;

Whereas the religious celebrations that take place on Holy Thursday are of great importance and significance for Catholics who usually attend them in large numbers;

Whereas also, the second ballot for the election of the President of the Republic will be held on April 19^th, 2022;

Whereas a large number of people will have to travel to their respective voter registration centres to take part in the said vote and then return to their usual place of work;

Whereas it is important to combat abstention and to promote the participation of all citizens in the forthcoming elections;

Whereas the practice has been followed before;

Whereas, by the provisions of Article 7(6)(d) of Law 10/2005 of August 10^th, as amended by Law 3/2016 of May 25^th, it falls to the Prime Minister to grant day-off to "civil servants and agents of the ministries or services dependent on them, as well as institutes and bodies integrated into the indirect administration of the State";

Thus, under the provisions of Article 7(2)(b) and Article 7(6)(d) of Law 10/2005, of August 10^th, as amended by Law 3/2016, of May 25^th, I hereby determine the following:

1. Day-off is granted:

a)   From 12:00 noon on April 14^th, 2022;

b)   b) On April 18^th and 19^th, 2022, all day;

c)    Until 2:00 p.m. on April 20^th, 2022.

2.    The present Order covers all civil servants, agents and workers who perform duties in the services of the direct administration of the State, whether central or decentralized or in the bodies of the indirect administration.

3.    Excepted from the previous number are the human resources of the public services that, due to the nature of their activity, must remain in service during that period;

4.    Without prejudice to the continuity and quality of the public service to be provided, the senior managers of those services referred to in the preceding number shall provide the equal exemption from the duty of attendance of their personnel, on a date to be established in due course. END