Meeting of the Council of Ministers on August 5th, 2026
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 August 5th, 2026
The Council of Ministers met at the Government Palace in Dili and was briefed by Inês Maria de Almeida, Timor-Leste’s Ambassador to Australia, on the Pacific Australian Labour Mobility Partnership (PALM) programme, focusing on Timorese workers’ participation and prospects for its future development. The presentation highlighted PALM’s importance as a tool for creating employment opportunities, developing professional skills, and strengthening cooperation between Timor-Leste and Australia, as well as the bilateral commitment to increase the number of Timorese workers participating in the programme to 10,000 by 2028.
Data was also presented on the participation of Timorese workers in the PALM Program, as well as on the main issues and complaints reported regarding their working conditions and well-being. The presentation identified the challenges that persist in implementing the program, particularly in protecting workers’ rights, strengthening institutional coordination, and valuing the skills acquired, while highlighting the benefits that PALM provides to the Australian economy by addressing labour needs in various sectors. The importance of deepening bilateral cooperation was also highlighted, in order to ensure fair working conditions and maximise the programme’s economic and social benefits for both countries.
The Council of Ministers also took note of a set of recommendations to strengthen Timor-Leste’s position within the PALM Program, including strengthening coordination among national institutions, recognising the skills acquired by workers abroad, diversifying employment opportunities in new sectors of activity, and promoting a coordinated national approach to relations with Australian authorities, with a view to ensuring that the programme continues to develop within a framework of mutually beneficial partnership.
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The Council of Ministers approved the draft Government Resolution, presented by the Civil Service Commission, which sets the number of vacancies for the promotion of personnel in the Public Administration’s General Career Track in 2026.
This Government Resolution establishes, for the year 2026, a total of 276 promotion openings for employees in the general civil service career track, representing five per cent of the total number of employees eligible for promotion at each professional grade. The vacancies are distributed as follows: 30 for Senior Technician, Grade A; 62 for Senior Technician, Grade B; 82 for Professional Technician, Grade C; 74 for Professional Technician, Grade D; 26 for Administrative Technician, Grade E; and 3 for Assistant, Grade F.
The Resolution also provides for the allocation of US$ 1,172,860.20 to cover the costs associated with promotions, thereby contributing to the enhancement of civil servants’ career prospects and to the strengthening of the capacity and motivation of the public administration.
The provisions set out in this Government Resolution take effect on January 1st, 2027.
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The Council of Ministers, upon a proposal by Vice-Minister of Finance Regina de Jesus, approved the first amendment to Decree-Law No. 42/2025 of December 15th, which implements Law No. 3/2025 of April 23rd on the Framework for the General State Budget and Public Financial Management.
The amendment introduces greater flexibility in the execution of the General State Budget, allowing funds earmarked for the development capital of public administrative sector services and entities to be released up to the full amount of the original budget allocation by the end of the first half of each year. This measure aims to ensure faster, more efficient implementation of public investment projects, reduce administrative constraints, and facilitate the timely achievement of government priorities.
The decree-law also brings the regulatory framework into line with the amendments introduced by Law No. 8/2026 of June 8th, which increased the flexibility of budgetary management. In this context, the law now provides for the possibility of making budgetary adjustments and transferring funds between the various programmes of the Infrastructure Fund, in accordance with the provisions of the Framework Law on the General State Budget and Public Financial Management.
With this amendment of the regulatory framework, the Government is strengthening public financial management mechanisms, promoting more efficient use of public resources, and ensuring greater capacity for the physical and financial implementation of strategic development capital projects, in accordance with the current legal framework.
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The Council of Ministers, following a proposal from the Minister of the Interior, Francisco da Costa Guterres, approved the draft Government Resolution adopting the Integrated National Plan to Prevent and Combat transnational digital financial fraud networks, supported by illicit online scam platforms (“SCAM”), organised cybercrime, and human trafficking, for 2026–2031.
This plan establishes an integrated national strategy to prevent and combat these threats, which pose a growing risk to national security, economic stability, digital sovereignty, the integrity of the financial system, and Timor-Leste’s international reputation, by strengthening coordination among intelligence agencies, security forces and services, criminal investigation agencies, financial authorities, and border control agencies.
The Plan’s priorities include strengthening the State’s capacity to prevent, detect, investigate, and combat organised cybercrime and human trafficking; protecting the national financial system and critical infrastructure; strengthening immigration control and border security; developing specialised technical capabilities; and promoting regional and international cooperation. Political coordination and oversight of its implementation will be the responsibility of the Interministerial Security Commission. In addition, a Government Decree will establish the National Centre for Coordination, Assessment, and Combating Transnational Threats (CN-CAT), reporting directly to the Prime Minister, as a permanent mechanism for inter-institutional coordination.
The Plan will be implemented in three phases between 2026 and 2031. The first phase will include establishing the CN-CAT, defining operational procedures, assessing national capabilities, and initiating a review of the legislative framework. In the second phase, the technical capabilities of institutions will be strengthened, technological systems will be implemented, joint operations will be developed, and international cooperation will be deepened, culminating in 2031 with the consolidation of national capabilities, the evaluation of the results achieved, and the updating of the National Plan, ensuring a sustainable and coordinated response to transnational threats.
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The Minister of Justice, Sérgio de Jesus Fernandes da Costa Hornai, presented to the Council of Ministers the preparations for hosting the 19th Conference of Ministers of Justice of the Portuguese-Speaking Countries (CMJPLOP) in Dili, which will bring together government officials responsible for justice across the CPLP member states. The Conference is an important mechanism for consultation and legal and judicial cooperation within the Portuguese-speaking world, facilitating the analysis of matters of common interest, the evaluation of ongoing initiatives, and the identification of new areas for collaboration. The preparatory work was also presented, including inter-institutional coordination and the logistical, protocol, security, and technical support required to host the event. Hosting this Conference in Timor-Leste, within the framework of the CPLP’s Pro Tempore Presidency, reinforces the national commitment to deepening legal cooperation among Member States and to strengthening the Community.
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Health Minister Elia A. A. dos Reis Amaral presented the preparations to the Council of Ministers for hosting the 79th Session of the World Health Organisation Regional Committee for Southeast Asia (WHO South-East Asia Regional Committee – WHO/SEARO) in Dili from 7 to 10 September 2026. This session serves as the primary governance forum for WHO in Southeast Asia, bringing together Member States to define strategic guidelines, review progress in public health, and approve regional cooperation initiatives. Ongoing preparatory work was presented, including inter-institutional coordination and logistical, protocol, security, and technical support for hosting the delegations. Hosting this meeting in Timor-Leste represents an opportunity to strengthen regional cooperation in health, promote the country’s international profile, and reaffirm the national commitment to strengthening health systems.
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The Vice Minister for Institutional Strengthening of Health, José dos Reis Magno, presented to the Council of Ministers an analysis of the persistent challenge of chronic malnutrition in Timor-Leste, highlighting the need for an integrated and coordinated response to improve the population’s health and nutrition indicators. In addition to statistical data, the minister outlined the Integrated Health Program, an intervention strategy that combines initiatives to promote nutrition, maternal and child health, disease prevention, and the strengthening of health education within communities. He also presented the goals to be achieved by 2030. He discussed ongoing measures to strengthen institutional coordination and the implementation of multisectoral responses aimed at reducing malnutrition and promoting better health outcomes, especially among children and the most vulnerable groups. END
