DILI, 09 july 2021 (TATOLI) – The Australian Ambassador to Timor-Leste Peter Roberts informed that the new Australia Pacific Training Coalition (APTC), will facilitate more of the young Timorese workforces to work in Australia.
State Secretary for Vocational Training and Employment (SEFOPE), Alarico de Rosário, and the Australian Ambassador to Timor-Leste, today, launch the APCT program to boost and support capacity building of Timor-Leste’s workforce.
“Since the beginning of the implementation of the Seasonal Worker Program, more than 5000 Timorese Seasonal Workers are now working in Australia. These workers have sent their earnings to Timor-Leste to support their families and economic growth of the nation,” Roberts made the comments during the launching ceremony of the APTC at the National Centre for Professional Training (SENAI), in Dili.
Roberts said launching the APCT was an important step to provide new opportunities to young Timorese people: “APTC will be working closely with the government of Timor-Leste, and the Pacific Labour Facility (PLF), to prepare the capacity of young Timorese people to work in Australia. APCT and PLF are designed to work together and complete each other. I am delighted to have these two programs implemented in Timor-Leste.”
He said APTC will focus on training the Timorese workforce on communication skills, digital literacy, teamwork, and English skills.
“One of the difficulties that we are facing right now is COVID-19. But Timorese Seasonal Workers showed good performance, discipline, and good personality. Thus, we believe that the number of the Timorese labor mobility to Australia will increase,” said Roberts.
He affirmed that the number of Timorese people working in Australia will rise: “Timorese workers have a good reputation and I will continue to promote these workers and hope that Australian companies will want to take more of these Timorese workers.”
At the same place, Rosário thanked the government of Australia for its commitment to continue supporting Timor-Leste’s professional employment training through SEFOPE.
“SEFOPE believes that with the APTC program, many young Timorese people will have more opportunities to work in Australia to support families back in Timor-Leste. During my mandate, I will do my best to ensure this program will be successfully implemented in Timor-Leste,” Rosario said.
Journalist: Filomeno Martins
Editor: Rafy Belo
