The Secretary of State for Professional Training and Employment organized a meeting on the 26th and 27th of May, in Díli, that focussed on the issue of analysis of constraints regarding employment creation.
During a long discussion, the participants questioned the challenges faced by the private sector, questioning the Government’s help, namely the lack of credit through the Micro-Finance institution and weak control over the Free Market in Timor-Leste. These situations, in the opinion of many, result in a negative impact for the economy and employment in Timor-Leste.
Another concern raised was the fact that many workers aren’t habilitated to apply for these jobs together with foreigners, and so they recommended the Government improve the Formal and not-Formal School Curriculum and the drafting of a sufficiently strong law to supply help in the execution of their businesses. These measures may help the final year students to become habilitated to respond to the demands imposed by the industrialization.
“The result of this meeting serves as a recommendation, but also as a consciousness for the collective effort in the search of a solution regarding the unemployment challenge in Timor-Leste. The Secretariat of State of Professional Training and Employment is responsible for employment creation in Timor-Leste, as well as helping to establish an employment policy. But there are other existing Ministries, such as Agriculture and Public Works, that can make available more all-inclusive jobs for the Timorese”, the Secretary of State for the Professional Training and Employment (SEPTE), Bendito Freitas, commented, with hope.
The organization of this meeting had the support of the Technical Responsible of the International Labour Organization (ILO) Kazutoshi Chatani. Directors and Technicians from various Ministries, businessman and Timor-Leste Trade Union Confederations (TUC) were the participants.