IV CONSTITUTIONAL GOVERNMENT
SECRETARY OF STATE OF THE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS

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PRESS RELEASE

Day-off Granted for July 9, 2012

The IV Constitutional Government of Timor-Leste grants a full day off on July 9, 2012 to all employees and agents of ministries and the departments under their responsibilities, as well as organizations and institutes involved indirectly in State administration.

This decision is in compliance with article 63.^o of the Constitution of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste establishing the citizens’ political participation. Section .^o 1 of this article determines the direct and active participation of women and men in political life, a requirement and a key instrument of the democratic system.

The Law n.^o 6/2006, from December 28, regarding the electoral act for National Parliament, states in n.^o 4 of article 37.^o states that those responsible for companies or services, whether public or private, operating on election day, should make it convenient for their workers to take sufficient time from service to be able to exercise their right to vote.

Thus, based on Law n.^o 10/2005, from August 10, determining national holidays, official commemorative dates and days-off, the Government grants a full day-off, on July 9, 2012, to allow citizens that are registered voters at a place other than where they reside to go back to their homes after exercising their right to vote.