DILI (ILO News): The Decent Work Country Programme (DWCP) for Timor-Leste 2016-2020 will be launched on Tuesday, 31 May 2016, at Timor Hotel, Dili, Timor-Leste. The DWCP 2016-2020 serves as a framework to support Government of Timor-Leste to achieve its National Strategic Development Plan (SDP) 2011-2030.

The DWCP for Timor-Leste is taking into account the priorities of Timor-Leste’s Government as well as workers’ and employers’ organizations. The DWCP is also in line with the International Labour Organization’s (ILO) core mandate to advance opportunities for women and men to obtain decent and productive work in condition of freedom, equity, security and human dignity.

The DWCP is jointly developed by the ILO, the Secretariat of State for Vocational Training and Employment Policy (SEPFOPE), the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Timor-Leste (CCI-TL) and the Timor-Leste Trade Union Confederation (KSTL), in collaboration with the Ministry of Public Works, Transports and Communications (MPWTC) and the Ministry of Social Solidarity (MSS). Involving a series of reviews and consultations, the agreed three priority areas are the following:

1. Employment Promotion and Social Protection

2. Rural Socio-economic Development

3. Good Labour Market Governance Institutions

The launch will be marked by the official signing of the DWCP for Timor-Leste 2016-2020 by the Timor-Leste tripartite constituents and the ILO, affirming the commitment from all parties involved to collaborate and coordinate in promoting and realizing decent work for all in Timor-Leste.

The National DWCP Declaration of Timor-Leste will be signed by H.E Ilidio Ximenes da Costa, Secretary of State for SEPFOPE; Oscar Lima, President of Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Timor-Leste; José da Conceição da Costa, Secretary General of Timor-Leste Trade Union Confederation; and Francesco d’Ovidio, Country Director of the ILO for Indonesia and Timor-Leste.

Ilidio Ximenes da Costa, Secretary of State for SEPFOPE, stated that the signing of the Timor-Leste DWCP 2016-2020 has ushered in a new era of tripartite collaboration for policymaking and implementation in the country. "The DWCP provides a collaborative framework for governments, workers’ and employers’ organizations to play their specific role, however it is crucial to mention the importance of the word ‘collaboration’ as it was less enjoyable in the past, therefore, considering that we are in the beginning of a new era towards hard work intensification we all shall highlight the true meaning of collaboration by involving tripartite commitment into it in order to envisage decent work in Timor-Leste.”

“The ILO congratulates the tripartite constituents of Timor-Leste on the strong commitment they have shown to developing the DWCP for Timor-Leste 2016-2020. It is an excellent example of successful social dialogue based on mutual trust and genuine commitment. It is a solid step towards a better future for the people in Timor-Leste. The DWCP also marks the new era of deepening collaboration between the tripartite constituents of Timor-Leste and the ILO,” said Francesco d’Ovidio, Country Director of the ILO for Indonesia and Timor-Leste.

In addition to the three priorities, promotion of gender equality, tripartism, social dialogue and institutional capacity building are mainstreamed throughout the DWCP priorities. Participation of the tripartite constituents through social dialogue would also be encouraged at all stages of implementation of the programmes and projects embedded in the DWCP.

For further information please contact:

Jacinto Barros Gusmão
General Director for Planning Management, Monitoring and Evaluation of SEPFOPE
Tel.: +670 7732 6632
Email: jacintobgusmao@yahoo.com

Lita Octavia
Programme Officer for Timor-Leste
Tel.: +6221 391 3112
Email: lita@ilo.org