DILI, 02 august 2021 (TATOLI) – The Minister of Finance Rui Agusto Gomes informed that the Government will provide a financial benefit to the frontline workers, saying the Ministry of Finance will re-submit the remuneration supplement decree-law to the President of the Republic (PR), Francisco Guterres ‘Lu OLo’ to reconsider public administration officials who had been working directly in handling Covid-19 as the frontline workers.
“The discussion of the decree-law is ongoing and indeed, the President of the Republic vetoed the decree on salary supplement for frontline workers earlier this month. Therefore, the discussion on the decree is underway,” Finance Minister, Rui Augusto told reporters after meeting Taur Matan Ruak, at his residence, in Dili, on monday.
The veto will further delay, and indefinitely, the payment of salary supplements to all frontline workers involved in combating the covid-19 pandemic in recent months, when the country experienced the most intense period of the disease.
Through the discussion, the final draft of the remuneration supplement would be presented at the Council of Ministers for its approval before submitting to the President of the Republic, said Augusto.
Augusto said the legislators were still discussing the request of the President of the Republic to make the payment for the frontline workers by using the previous remuneration supplement decree-law.
“I would like to say that there are various ways to pay the frontline workers and no one would lose their rights. Sooner, we will present the draft of the remuneration supplement decree-law to the Council of Ministers,” Augusto affirmed.
Previously, the Council of Ministers approved the decree-law and was supposed to apply on april 1, this year.
Last year, the government established the decree-law on the remuneration supplement to make the payment for the frontline workers, including doctors, army forces, police officers, electrical technicians, journalists, and so on.
Journalist : Camilio de Sousa
Editor: Nelia Borges Rosario
