DILI, 07 july 2022 (TATOLI) – Timorese Prime Minister Taur Matan Ruak called on relevant authorities to crack down on illegal agencies that engaged in human traffic and organized crime in the country.
“I urge relevant authorities, particularly the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) and Timor-Leste Criminal and Investigative Police (PCIC) to carry out an operation to identify and arrest those targeted illegal recruitment agencies that have been engaged in human traffic and organized crimes,” Ruak made the comments after his weekly meeting with President Horta at the Presidential Palace, today.
Ruak said these illegal agencies only knew how to send people overseas but showed no responsibility when those people were stuck and stranded abroad.
He said therefore PCIC will find and arrest those agencies who sent Timorese irresponsibly to be held accountable.
“As the Prime Minister and the Minister of the Interior, I will order the authorities to arrest all of these unregistered agencies,” Ruak reiterated.
“I called on these illegal agencies to stop recruiting and sending people overseas.”
Ruak said next time those who travel overseas without signing any labor contract will have to pay for their return tickets if they are stuck and stranded overseas: “Next time if you are stuck overseas, you will have to pay for your return tickets.”
In may, an illegal Timorese recruitment agency sent seven Timorese who identified with the initials BS, ECdR, L, P, M, A, and A to Dubai without signing any labor agreement and worked on tourist visas for more than two months in Dubai. These workers worked every day from 9 am to 9 pm and earn only 200 Dirham which equals US$54.
Last week, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Julião da Silva and Prime Minister Taur Matan Ruak also talked about the repatriation of the 13 Timorese in Germany and another 20 workers in Malaysia who were sent by the same agency.
Silva said after they arrived in Germany, these 13 Timorese were jobless and seeking support from the Timor-Leste Embassy in Brussels, the capital of Belgium. While the 20 other Timorese workers were stuck in Malaysia.
“This fellow Timorese are jobless and don’t know who to turn to, where to go, or anything. Therefore, the Government’s responsibility is to protect and help them return home,” Silva said.
Journalist: Filomeno Martins
Editor: Nelia Borges
