Launch of the National Employment Strategy of Timor-Leste

On July 17, the Government, through the Secretary of State for Vocational Training and Employment Policy (SEPFOPE), with the support of the Office of the Minister of State, Economic Affairs Coordinator (MECAE) and the International Labour Organization (ILO), launched the "National Employment Strategy" (NES) program for the period 2017-2030, which took place in the Suai Room, Timor Plaza, Dili.

Press release | Dili, Timor-Leste | 17 July 2017
The Launch of NES: The Secretary of State for Vocational Training and Employment Policy, Ilídio Ximenes da Costa signed the NES Declaration, together with relevant ministers
DILI (Joint Press Release) - On July 17, the Government, through the Secretary of State for Vocational Training and Employment Policy (SEPFOPE), with the support of the Office of the Minister of State, Economic Affairs Coordinator (MECAE) and the International Labour Organization (ILO), launched the "National Employment Strategy" (NES) program for the period 2017-2030, which took place in the Suai Room, Timor Plaza, Dili.

Employment is an important issue, it requires the involvement of all in its resolution. SEPFOPE and with the support of the ILO has developed this strategy, and I appeal to the new executive to continue to implement it."

Estanislau Aleixo da Silva, the Minister of State, Coordinator of Economic Affairs
His Excellency the Minister of State, Coordinator of Economic Affairs, Estanislau Aleixo da Silva, during his speech stated "Employment is an important issue, it requires the involvement of all in its resolution. SEPFOPE and with the support of the ILO has developed this strategy, and I appeal to the new executive to continue to implement it".

The Secretary of State for Vocational Training and Employment Policy, Ilídio Ximenes da Costa, stated that "the Government with the implementation and commitment, through the launch of the NES program, will create conditions to facilitate new jobs and Employment opportunities for the Timorese”.

the Government with the implementation and commitment, through the launch of the NES program, will create conditions to facilitate new jobs and Employment opportunities for the Timorese&rdquo."

Ilídio Ximenes da Costa, The Secretary of State for Vocational Training and Employment Policy
ILO Director for Indonesia and Timor-Leste Ms. Michiko Miyamoto describes “Employment are critical avenue toward achieving pro-poor growth. Productive employment and decent work are the main routes out of poverty. The low labour force participation and the difficulties of young people entering the labour market stand out as the most deficiencies. The National Employment Strategy 2017-2030 is to provide a strategy for the government and civil society to have a stronger and more cohesive focus on employment and will be used as a framework for strengthening the focus on employment across the policy spectrum”.

The NES 2017 - 2030 focuses on the need of creating new jobs to reduce unemployment and provide employment opportunities for the large population of young people entering the labour market in the next years; increasing formal jobs and addressing current productivity to achieve Government Strategy Development Plan in 2030.

The objective of NES are:
  • To provide a strategy for the government and civil society to have a stronger and more cohesive focus on employment.
  • To operationalize the employment dimensions of the SDP ensuring that employment is incorporated into macroeconomic and sectoral policies, as well as labour market strategies.

NES has three main pillars:

1st Pillar: Increase labour market demand:
Promote private sector generated employment, to increase employment in labour migration schemes, to maximize the employment impact of Government spending and to develop local potential.

2nd Pillar: Improve the labour market supply:
NES as a broader strategy to build human resources, continue to implement the Timor-Leste TVET Plan 2011-2030, create a stronger link Between the Ministry of Education (ME) and SEPFOPE, continue to strengthen higher education, improve the social protection system, and promoting gender equality.

3rd Pillar: Strengthen labour market Institutions:

Strengthen Active Labour Market Policies, strengthening coordination structure, continue to strengthen the Labour Market Information System (LMIS), better linking job seekers with employment opportunities, and reviewing the Labour Law and the Wage-setting in Timor-Leste.

The NES was approved by the Council of Ministers on June 13, 2017. In the future, an inter-ministerial group will be created to define the implementation of the goals to be achieved by 2030.

For further information please contact:


Lita Octavia
Programme Officer for Timor-Leste
ILO Jakarta Office
Tel.: +6221 391 3112 ext. 153
Email: lita@ilo.org