DILI, 28 september 2022 (TATOLI) – Timor-Leste plan to establish a labor mobility agreement with Portugal, Brunei Darussalam, Japan, and Germany.
“So far, Timor-Leste has established the labor mobility agreement with two countries, namely Australia and South Korea,” said Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation (MoFAC), Julião da Silva.
Da Silva said establishing labor mobility agreements with more countries is important to help Timorese job seekers.
“The Government continues to put efforts to sign the labor mobility agreement with other countries before sending Timorese workers,” Da Silva told TATOLI, at his office in Pantai Kelapa, Dili.
He said: “Timorese job seekers need to access the accurate information through MoFAC before leaving for other countries such as Portugal and other countries because it will be very risky for them to live there without working. It will be very hard to find the solution to your problem if there is no labor mobility agreement between the governments,” he said.
Currently, nearly 1000 Timorese are jobless and homeless in Portugal, of which some are believed to be in danger as there is no food and medication.
Da Silva clarified the Government of Timor-Leste through its Embassy in Portugal continues to protect Timorese workers who are facing the problems: “The problem is that these Timorese fellows do not want to approach our Embassy.”
“Of these 1000 job seekers, nearly 100 people had visited our embassy to inform their current situation,” he said
In addition, 11 of these job seekers have entered Germany and are facing the same problem.
Journalist: Camilio de Sousa
Editor: Nelia Borges
