Meeting of the Council of Ministers on April 30th, 2024
Presidency of the Council of Ministers
Spokesperson of the Government of Timor-Leste
Ninth Constitutional Government
.............................................................................................................................
Press Release
Meeting of the Council of Ministers on April 30th, 2024
The Council of Ministers met at the Government Palace in Dili and approved the draft Decree-Law, presented by the Minister of Youth, Sports, Art and Culture, Nelyo Isaac Sarmento, to approve the composition, competences and operation of the National Council for Youth Development (CNDJ – acronym in Portuguese).
The Government, as set out in its Programme, is committed to strengthening the functioning of the National Youth Development Council to promote more effective coordination between public and private entities that ensure the promotion of initiatives aimed at young people and their access to the labour market, as well as guarantee the preparation of policies and the implementation of national action plans related to the strategies approved in the National Youth Policy.
The enactment of this Decree-Law will repeal Decree-Law 32/2017 of August 23rd to establish a new legal framework that is more efficient and better reflects the CNDJ's mission. This new legal framework will include defining a structure and framework for the CNDJ and specifying its competences, composition, and mode of operation. This step is crucial to continuing the process of implementing the National Youth Action Plans and is fundamental for the sustainable development of legislative policies in the Youth sector in Timor-Leste.
******
The Vice-Minister of Social Solidarity and Inclusion, Céu Brites, and the President of the Board of Directors of the National Social Security Institute (INSS), Arlindo Pinto, gave a presentation to the Council of Ministers on the Social Security System in Timor-Leste.
The contributory social security system began to be implemented in 2017, and benefits under the general social security system began to be paid in 2018. The INSS was established in 2019, and the Social Security Reserve Fund was constituted in 2021.
It is a single, contributory, and compulsory scheme, the same for all workers in all sectors of activity. The contributions, corresponding to 10 per cent of the basic salary, are divided between the workers (4 per cent) and their employers (6 per cent), used to pay social benefits. At the same time, the surplus is deposited in the Social Security Reserve Fund. The system is based on the principles of equality, fairness, solidarity between generations and within the same generation and public responsibility following the Constitution of the Republic.
******
The Secretary of State for Toponymy and Urban Organisation, Germano Santa Brites Dias, gave a presentation on the ongoing urban organisation measures, which aim to transform Dili into a clean, organised, healthy and safe environment.
The Secretary of State summarised the competences and guidelines he had received and presented data on the administrative evictions underway in various areas of the city to mitigate the risks of flooding, pollution, and urban disorganisation and enable public works to be carried out, such as the expansion of urban roads, the construction of gardens, and the rehabilitation of the Becora Terminal. It should be noted that the previous Government notified and compensated the populations for the evictions that have now been enforced.
The construction of the public cemetery in Metinaro and the rehabilitation of the Manleuana and Taibessi Markets were also discussed. These projects will improve the conditions, organisation, and capacity of the two largest markets in Dili and provide a more functional and healthier environment for citizens.
******
Lastly, the Council of Ministers approved the draft Government Resolution, presented by the Minister of Defence, Donaciano do Rosário Gomes, and the Minister of the Interior, Francisco da Costa Guterres, on the joint operational engagement between the Falintil—Defence Forces of Timor-Leste (F-FDTL) and the National Police Timor-Leste (PNTL), in the context of His Holiness Pope Francis's visit to Timor-Leste.
This Government Resolution authorises the joint operational commitment between the F-FDTL and the PNTL through patrol operations and special surveillance and control of all places considered sensitive in the city of Dili to prevent and restrain the actions of individuals who may cause social instability during His Holiness Pope Francis's visit.
To fulfil the security operations arising from this Resolution, a Joint Task Force will be established, and a joint directive will be drawn up providing plans for the security logistics support chain, chain of command and communications, rules of engagement for the Task Force, intelligence support and emergency support/ preventive measures.
Representatives of the Military Office of the Presidency of the Republic, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, the Ministry of Health, the Migration Service, the Civil Protection Authority, ANATL, the Secretariat of the Organising Committee and other bodies that may be identified as relevant to the Joint Task Force may also participate in the Task Force. END
