DILI, 25 october 2022 (TATOLI) – The President of the Republic, José Ramos Horta, and his Portuguese counterpart, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, will meet to address the recent problems facing Timorese people in Portugal.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Adaljiza Magno, said that the Head of State will meet with his Portuguese counterpart on october 30.
“Timor-Leste wants to collaborate with Portugal to find solutions to the problems of the Timorese people in Portugal,” Magno said after meeting Prime Minister Taur Matan Ruak to inform him about the Head of State’s visit to Portugal.
According to Magno, after identifying the cause of the problem, Timor-Leste will ask Portugal to implement some measures that can help the Timorese, either by reducing the effects of the precariousness of their situation or by fully resolving the situation.
“Currently, we register about 5.000 Timorese workers in Portugal, of which around 800 are jobless. The Timorese government is ready to repatriate those who can’t get a job,” she said.
Horta’s visit to Portugal is a response to the invitation from his Portuguese counterpart, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa.
In Lisbon, Horta will also participate in the Web Summit 2022, which will take place between november 1 and 4.
The Director-General of Protocol and Consular Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation (MoFAC), José Amorim Dias said that the Government of Timor-Leste wanted to establish a labor mobility agreement with the Portuguese government as it did with Australia and South Korea.
This agreement aims to mitigate the consequences of Timorese traveling to Portugal without labor contracts.
He said Timor-Leste Embassy in Portugal has already made initial contacts, aiming to establish bilateral negotiations that address the circumstances of allowing Timorese to travel and live in Portugal.
The draft mobility agreement was prepared by the Embassy of Timor-Leste in Portugal and has already been sent to the MoFAC to be reviewed before a formal agreement is signed.
Journalist: Domingos Piedade Freitas
Editor: Maria Auxiliadora
Translation: Filomeno Martins
