DILI, 13 july 2022 (TATOLI)—The State Secretariat for Vocational Training and Employment (SEFOPE) is working with the Australian government to repatriate 100 Timorese workers out of 333 illegal workers in Australia to join the Work Ready Pool (WRP) system.
TL National Director of Foreign Workers, Filomeno Soares said 333 Timorese workers were removed from the WRP system during the pandemic situation and deemed to be working illegally in Australia.
“SEFOPE and Australia are working hard to get them re-registered in the WRP system to become legal workers and be able to apply for the Pacific Australia Labor Mobility (PALM) scheme,” Filomeno Soares told Tatoli yesterday.
Previously, Soares stated that the company itself was disappointed with the decision of the Timorese workers who decided to work illegally and left the system.
Director Filomeno admitted that most of these workers opted out of the system due to the COVID-19 pandemic in previous years.
“They have taken a very risky decision but the government continues to do what it can to get them back into the system, however getting back to work will depend on the company,”
He also said “The consequence of leaving the system is that the company will not be held responsible if anyone faces personal problems and they will be sent back to Timor-Leste,”
According to Filomeno, from 2012 to 2022 the SEPFOPE through the Seasonal Working Program (SWP) and the Pacific Labor Scheme (PLS) sent 5,290 workers from Timor Leste to Australia.
Journalist: José Belarmino De Sá
Editor: Nelia B.
