Presidency of the Council of Ministers

Spokesperson of the Government of Timor-Leste

Ninth Constitutional Government

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Press Release

August 15th, 2024

Day off on September 9th to 11th, 2024, 2024

Given that Article 7(2)(a) of Law no. 10/2005, of August 10^th, as amended by Laws no. 3/2016, of May 25^th, and 10/2023 of April 5^th, provides that day off may be granted on the occasion of an official commemorative date.

 Considering that between 9th to 11th of September 2024, Timor-Leste will receive the  visit from His Holiness Pope Francis;

 Considering the importance of this visit not only for the Timorese state, but also for the majority of the national population who profess the Catholic religion;

 Also taking into consideration the will of the State and Government of the Democratic Republic of  Timor-Leste to receive His Holiness Pope Francis with the greatest possible honour;

 In view of the need for a large number of people to travel to Dili to take part in the great event of liturgical celebration by His Holiness the Pope;

 In addition to the fact that thousands of pilgrims are expected to be on the national roads, there is also a need to guarantee a safe environment, namely by reducing the number of vehicles circulating and conditioning various roads;

 Given that according to the provisions of Article 7(6)(d) of Law no. 10/2005, of August 10^th, as amended by Laws no. 3/2016, of May 25^th, and 10/2023, of April 5^th, it is the Prime Minister’s responsibility to grant a day 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, pursuant to Article 7(2)(a) and Article 7(6)(d) of Law 10/2005 of August 10^th, as amended by Laws 3/2016 of May 25^th and 10/2023 of April 5^th, I hereby determine the following:

1. It is granted day off from 9 to 11 September 2024.
2. This order covers officials, agents, and workers who work in direct State administration services, whether central or deconcentrated or in indirect administration bodies
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 must promote the equivalent exemption from the duty of attendance of the respective human resources on a day to be set in due course.
5. To instruct the Secretary of State for Vocational Training and Employment to promote and encourage workers in the private sector to take part in the activities planned to welcome the Holy Father, by authorising their absence from work, with the exception of those who, due to the nature of their activity, must remain in operation, so that they can take part in these extremely important events together with workers in the public sector. END