DILI, 11 october 2021 (TATOLI) – Coordinating Minister of Economic Affairs (CMoEA), Joaquim Amaral informed that the process of the revision of the proposal of the minimum wage, presented by the Secretary of State for Vocational Training and Employment (SEFOPE), had been listed on the CMoEA’s agenda.
“Regarding the evaluation of the proposal on the current minimum wage is just a matter of time. It’s already on the list of CMoEA’s agenda and of course, we will ha have solutions for that,” Amaral told reporters, at SEFOPE’s hall, in Dili, today.
Amaral said CMoEA would put efforts to find a good solution to solve the current minimum wage in the country.
“With the newly elected president and members of the National Council of Labor (NCL) and the new members of Labor Arbitration Council (LAC) will help the government to improve the working condition and working environment in Timor-Leste. It includes reviewing the current wage. Therefore, it is necessary to have a labor law,” said Amaral.
At the same place, State Secretary for Vocational Training (SEFOPE), as the newly elected president of the NCL, Alarico de Rosário urged CMoEA to accelerate the revision of the Timor-Leste’s minimum wage.
The minimum wage in Timor-Leste is currently US$115.00 per month.
“Timor-Leste Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI-TL), Timor-Leste Trade Union Confederations (TLTUC), and SEFOPE will cooperate to find a solution for the minimum wage in the country to dignify the workers as well as increase productivity,” said Rosario.
“Based on law, NCL and LAC would evaluate minimum wage every two years. It has been nine years now that Timor-Leste’s minimum wage hadn’t been reviewed since the administration of the previous government in 2014. Today, I am elected as the new president of the NCL, and I would like to ask Your Excellency, Coordinating Minister of Economic Affairs, Joaquim Amaral to help us with the acceleration of the evaluation process of the minimum wage,” said Rosario.
In addition, the president of the TLTUC, Almeiro J. V. N. Gouveia said according to a survey conducted by the TLTUC in 2014, increasing the minimum salary to US$200 is sufficient to ensure a good life for Timorese workers.
“US$200 minimum is sufficient to dignify workers, as we know that they have family members. We need a decree-law to regulate the minimum wage, therefore, CNL would put efforts to achieve these things,” said Gouveia.
Journalist: Filomeno Martins
Editor: Nelia Borges Rosario
