Presidency of the Council of Ministers

Spokesperson of the Government of Timor-Leste

Ninth Constitutional Government

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

Dili, November 8^th 2023

Press Release

Day off on November the 13^th, 2023

Whereas the Village (Suco) bodies elections were held on October 28^th, 2023;

Whereas Article 71(2) of Law no. 9/2016 of July 8^th determines that a second ballot must be held if it is not possible to elect the Village (Suco) bodies in the first ballot;

Whereas, per Government Decree no. 9/2023, of August 16^th, the second ballot to elect the Villages (Sucos) bodies will be held on November 13^th, 2023 (Monday);

Whereas there is a need to hold a second ballot on a total of 271 Villages (Sucos);

Whereas the practice that has been followed previously;

Whereas, according to Article 7(6)(d) of Law no. 10/2005, of August 10^th, amended by Law no. 3/2016, of May 25^th, and by Law no. 10/2023, of April 5^th, it is the Prime Minister’s responsibility to grant time off to “officials and agents of the ministries or services dependent on them, as well as institutes and bodies integrated into the indirect administration of the State”;

Therefore, under the provisions of paragraph 2(b) and paragraph 6(d), both of article 7 of Law no. 10/2005, of August 10^th, as amended by Law no. 3/2016, of May 25^th and Law no. 10/2023, of April 5^th, the Government determines the following:

1. Day off is granted on November 13^th, 2023, for the entire day;
2. This order covers all employees, agents and workers of the direct administration of the State, whether central and decentralised and in the bodies of indirect administration;
3. The human resources of public services that, due to the nature of their activity, must remain in operation during that period are exempt from the previous paragraph;
4. Without prejudice to the continuity and quality of the public service to be provided, the senior managers of the services referred to in the previous paragraph shall provide the equal exemption from the duty of attendance of their personnel on a date to be established in due course. END