Government of Timor-Leste

Presidency of the Council of Ministers

Spokesperson of the Government of Timor-Leste

Ninth Constitutional Government

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Press Release

Day Off on the Afternoon of April 2nd and All Day on April 6th, 2026

Whereas this year, Good Friday and Easter fall on April 3^rd and 5^th, respectively;

Whereas Article 7(2)(c) 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, establishes that time-off may be granted on the occasion of an official commemorative date;

Whereas, also, under Article 5(2)(b) of Law No. 10/2005 of August 10^th, amended by Laws No. 3/2016 of May 25^th, and 10/2023 of April 5^th, “Good Thursday, part of the Christian Easter celebrations” is an official commemorative date, with a variable date each year;

Whereas the religious celebrations of “Holy Thursday” hold great importance and significance for a large number of Catholic believers, who typically participate in the religious ceremonies held during Holy Week;

Whereas the practice that has been followed previously, pursuant to Article 5(2)(b) of the aforementioned law;

Whereas a large number of people typically travel to their hometowns to participate in Easter religious celebrations with their families;

Whereas, pursuant to 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 5^th April, the Prime Minister is responsible for granting time-off to “officials and agents of ministries or services dependent on them, as well as institutes and bodies integrated into the indirect administration of the State,”

Therefore, pursuant to the provisions of Article 7(2)(a) and 7(6)(d) of Law No. 10/2005 of August 10^th, as amended by Laws No. 3/2016 of May 25^th, and No. 10/2023 of April 5^th, the Prime Minister decides the following:

1 - Day-off is granted:

a)     On April 2^nd, 2025, starting at 12:00 p.m.;

b)     All day on April 6^th, 2026.

2 - This order applies to all civil servants, agents, and workers engaged in activities within the direct administration of the State, whether centralised or decentralised, or in bodies of indirect administration.

3 - Human resources in public services that, due to the nature of their activities, must remain operational during that period are exempt from the previous paragraph.

4 - Without prejudice to maintaining the continuity and quality of the public service to be provided, the senior managers of the services referred to in the previous paragraph shall promote the equivalent exemption from the duty of attendance for their respective human resources, on a date to be established in due course. END