Prime Minister and Minister of Public Works Inaugurate Training and Licensing Centre for Heavy Equipment Operators
On October 29th, 2026, in Caicoli, Dili, Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão, accompanied by the Minister of Public Works, Samuel Marçal, inaugurated the Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Training Centre, dedicated to the training, certification, and licensing of heavy-machinery and equipment operators, under the mandate of the Institute for the Management of Equipment and Support for Infrastructure Development (IGEADI, IP), with the aim of improving the qualifications of national workers and strengthening safety in equipment operation.
The centre aims to support the implementation of a system for the training, competency assessment, certification, and licensing of operators of high-risk machinery and equipment, in line with legal requirements and occupational health and safety standards. The initiative covers technical training for operators, identification and prevention of occupational risks, safe operating procedures, and equipment care and maintenance. It also seeks to ensure that workers have the necessary qualifications to perform these activities, prevent workplace accidents, expand employment opportunities for Timorese citizens, and reduce reliance on foreign operators.
During the ceremony, the Prime Minister emphasised the need to prepare the national workforce to meet the technical requirements of the country's development projects and investment activities. Xanana Gusmão called on IGEADI to ensure ongoing oversight of the centre, equipment maintenance, and the continuity of training activities. The Head of Government also expressed appreciation to the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) for its support in developing national technical capacities.
The Minister of Public Works, Samuel Marçal, emphasised that operators' qualifications should cover not only machinery handling but also risk identification, preventive maintenance, and compliance with safety procedures. The Minister warned of the dangers associated with operating heavy equipment, particularly during operations carried out in the rainy season and in areas affected by flooding or landslides.
The establishment of the centre forms part of the legislative reforms approved by the Government in 2025. Decree-Law No. 18/2025 of July 2nd expanded IGEADI's responsibilities to include the promotion of specialised and certified technical training, while Decree-Law No. 19/2025, enacted on the same date, established the rules and conditions governing the use of high-risk machinery and equipment. Both legal instruments were approved at the Council of Ministers meeting on June 11th, 2025.
Also attending the ceremony were the Vice-Minister of Public Works, Júlio do Carmo da Silva; the Secretary of State for Electricity, Water and Sanitation, Santos Noronha; the Secretary of State for Civil Protection, Domingos Mariano Reis; the Chair of Committee E of the National Parliament, Member of Parliament Marcos Xavier; the Second Commander-General of the National Police of Timor-Leste (PNTL), Assistant Commissioner Natércia Eufrásia Soares Martins; the President of IGEADI, Ana Paula da Cruz; and representatives of JICA in Timor-Leste.
The initiative is part of the Government's measures to improve the qualifications of national workers and to enforce safety standards for the use of high-risk equipment.
