Meeting of the Council of Ministers on January 17th, 2024
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 January 17th, 2024
The Council of Ministers met at the Government Palace in Dili and approved the draft Government Resolution, presented by the Vice Minister for Social Solidarity and Onclusion, Céu Brites, for the appointment of Arlindo Pinto to a three-year term as President of the Board of Directors of the National Social Security Institute and, consequently, President of the Social Security Reserve Fund Board.
The Government Resolution highlights that Arlindo Pinto “possesses recognized integrity and has been performing, throughout his professional career, functions that make him the possessor of qualified knowledge, technical training, and experience that presuppose leadership ability and justify the adequacy of his profile for the performance of said position”.
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The Government approved the Draft Law project, presented by the Vice-Prime Minister, Minister Coordinator of Social Affairs, and Minister of Rural Development and Community Housing, Mariano Assanami Sabino, for the regulation of the National Council for Food and Nutritional Security and Sovereignty in Timor-Leste (CONSSAN-TL).
This draft Decree-Law aims to establish a regulatory framework for the effective implementation of food and nutrition security policies in the country. The decree defines the composition and responsibilities of CONSSAN-TL, establishes an Interministerial Working Group and a Permanent Technical Secretariat to support the coordination and implementation of these policies. T he creation of municipal representations is also proposed to ensure a decentralized and effective implementation of the established guidelines. The ultimate goal is to ensure a coordinated and efficient approach to promoting food and nutrition security in Timor-Leste.
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The draft Government Resolution, presented by the Minister of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, Agio Pereira, establishing the remuneration of the President of the Civil Service Commission, was also approved.
Bearing in mind that the Civil Service Commission, created by Law no.7/2009, of July 15th, is the body responsible for ensuring a politically impartial, impartial, merit-based civil service with high standards of professionalism, with the aim of providing quality services to the State and the people of Timor-Leste.
Also considering that it is evident that the level of responsibility of the powers and the degree of complexity and demands of the tasks inherent in the position of President of The Civil Service Commission are much higher than those of the other members of the Commission, the Government decided to increase the President's remuneration, moving it from the 3rd step, where it was previously aligned with the other commissioners, to the 2nd step. With this decree, the payment of the remuneration equivalent to the 2nd step of the remuneration of the members of the management bodies of the public legal persons that make up the State Indirect Administration and the personalized services covered by the scope of the Decree-Law no. 92/2022, of December 22nd , corresponding to 80% of the Prime Minister’s remuneration, is due from the beginning of the President's term of office of the Civil Service Commission.
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According to the draft presented by the Vice Minister for ASEAN affairs, Milena Maria da Costa Rangel, the Council of Ministers decided to approve an agreement between the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam on visa exemptions for holders of diplomatic and service passports.
These agreement aims to strengthen the friendly relations between the two countries and facilitate travel by their citizens for tourism purposes. Considering Timor-Leste’s ongoing accession process as the 11th member of ASEAN summits, this deliberation is also intended to align with the provisions of the ASEAN Tourism Agreement and the Roadmap for Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste’s Accession to ASEAN. The aim is to effectively promote tourism in the region and strengthen the bonds of friendship between ASEAN citizens, reflecting Timor-Leste’s commitment to implement and respect all ASEAN instruments, including the ASEAN Visa Waiver Framework Agreement.
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The Council of Ministers approved the draft Decree-Law, presented by the Minister of Public Works, Samuel Marçal, for the granting of risk allowance to workers performing functions at the Institute for Equipment Management and Support for Infrastructure Development, I.P.
This allowance aims to compensate for the special working conditions faced by these professionals, whose activities involve significant risks, exposure to extreme weather conditions, dust, excessive noise, and other factors harmful to health.
The risk allowance is exclusively for IGEADI workers involved in operations with heavy equipment, especially in situations of natural disasters such as floods and landslides, and only for effective days of work in the field. The amount of the allowance varies according to the nature of the work and the geographical location, being paid monthly along with the beneficiary's remuneration. The amount of the allowance is calculated based on the effective days of work outside the IGEADI facilities, where operations with heavy machinery are carried out.
Beneficiaries of the risk allowance are IGEADI workers, regardless of the nature of the contract, including holders of management and leadership positions, with the functions of heavy machinery operators, drivers of heavy vehicles weighing 30 tons or more, drivers of heavy vehicles weighing less than 30 tons, mechanics, operational engineers, and heavy machinery operator assistants.
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In accordance with the projects presented by the Minister of Transportation and Communications, Miguel Marques Gonçalves Manetelu, the Council of Ministers decided to aprove:
- The memorandum of understanding between the Ministry of Transportation and Communications of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste and the Ministry of Communications and Informatics of the Republic of Indonesia for Cooperation in the communication and informatics area.
- The extension of the memorandum of understanding between the Ministry of Transportation and Communications of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste and the Ministry of Transport of the Republic of Indonesia for cooperation in the education and training in transportation area.
- The bilateral agreement between the Ministry of Transport and Communications of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste and Ministry of Transport of the Government of Malaysia in the field of air transport.
Improving and expanding the communications and informatics sector, as well as development in the transport and communications sector, requires proactive and assertive collaboration with other countries to increase effectiveness in both domestic and external actions.
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The Council of Ministers also decided, in accordance with the project presented by the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Forestry, Marcos da Cruz, to authorize expenditure for the Maliana II irrigation project, in Maliana, in the Municipality of Bobonaro.
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According to the draft presented by the Minister of Planning and Strategic Investment, Gastão Francisco de Sousa, the Council of Ministers decided to approve the memorandum of understanding between the Minister of Planning and Strategic Investment of the Democratic of Timor-Leste and the Ministry of Public Works and Housing of the Republic of Indonesia for Cooperation in the Infrastructure Development Area. The Council of Ministers also granted full powers to Minister Gastão de Sousa to sign the memorandum of understanding.
This memorandum of understanding aims to strengthen and expand cooperation between the parties based on the principles of equality, reciprocity, and mutual benefit. The main focus is on expanding collaboration in the infrastructure development and related areas, adopting an efficient, effective, and holistic approach. Under this agreement, the two countries will share knowledge, skills, and experiences in infrastructure development, aiming at the well-being of the populations of both countries. This cooperation will serve common interests and contribute to strengthening bilateral collaboration between the two countries and in accordance with the laws and regulations in force in their respective countries.
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The Council of Ministers approved the draft Decree-Law, presented by the Minister of Planning and Strategic Investment, Gastão Francisco de Sousa, on the regulation of the Human Capital Development Fund.
This Draft Law aims to regulate the Human Capital Development Fund, created by Law No. 1/II/2011, of February 14, with the purpose of financing training projects for national human resources in strategic sectors, both in the country and abroad.
The objectives to be achieved with this legislative intervention are, firstly, to establish, in the organization of the Fund’s administration, including its legal nature, governance and operating rules, the specific approaches that achieve the policy objectives set out in the Government Program and assigned by law to its responsibility. Secondly, it is intended to design the Fund’s organizational structure guided by the standards of efficiency and effectiveness of the administration’s performance in the management and implementation of the Strategic Development Plan, with a view to improving the quality of the provision of more and better public goods and services to citizens in the financing of multi-annual projects and programs for the training of national human resources in strategic sectors of the country’s development, both in Timor-Leste and abroad.
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Finally, The Council of Ministers approved the draft Government Resolution, Presented by the Minister of Transportation and Communications, Miguel Marques Gonçalves Manetelu for the appointments of the members of the Board of Directors of the public company for the administration of Airports and Air Navigation of Timor-Leste (ANATL).
Thus, with this Government Resolution they are appointed for a period of four years, on na exclusive basis:
- Romualdo António Soares da Silva for the position of President of the Board of Directors of ANATL E.P.;
- Luís Caldeira Alves for the position of President of the Board of Directors of ANATL E.P.;
- Marco Paulo dos Reis Faria de Sousa for the position of member of the Board of Directors of ANATL E.P.;
- Agostinho Castro para o cargo de vogal do Conselho de Administração da ANATL E.P.; Agostinho Castro for the position of member of the Board of Directors of ANATL E.P.;
- Isolino dos Santos Sequeira Sarmento for the position of member of the Board of Directors of ANATL E.P.END
