DILI, 29 november 2022 (TATOLI)- The Confederation of Labor Syndicate in Timor-Leste (CLSTL) with the support of the International Labor Organization (ILO) has launched a special guidance on Labor Law and Industrial Relations in Timor-Leste for 2022.
“The completion of this guide would not have been possible without the participation and assistance of all parties involved in the entire process,” said a statement from CLSTL’s office on tuesday.
In the statement, CLSTL express its special appreciation to the ILO through the Regular Budget Supplementary Account (RBSA) project, Ravindra Chanaka Samithadasa (Worker Activities Specialist), Jeremias Baptista Gomes (National Program for Social Dialogue), and José Azelito Soares (National Consultant for Development Guide).
“The newly published guide supports the implementation of Timor-Leste’s Employment Act and the country’s broader commitment to decent work. The ability to understand and implement Manpower Law is still a challenge,”
In the absence of clear guidelines to support the implementation of the law, it opens a wide space for all parties to interpret based on their respective interests, which can lead to various implications of misinterpretation.
“As a result, conflict resolution that arises in the workplace is not always resolved following the principles of good faith.While this practical guide is intended as a working tool to help workers to become aware of their rights and how to exercise them,”
The ILO in Timor-Leste continues to support its constituents to develop a Decent Work Country Program for Timor-Leste (DWCP) together with SoSVTE, CCI-TL, and CSLTL for the period 2022-2025, building on the progress made under the previous Timor DWCP -East Timor 2016-2021.
This complements the ILO’s ongoing support to SoSVTE, CCITL, and CSLTL in their role of leading the implementation of Labor Law No.4, 2012, to promote peaceful and beneficial conditions for economic growth and diversification.
CSLTL is one of the main constituencies representing Workers’ organizations in Timor-Leste. It is an umbrella of 7 affiliated syndicates and has been actively involved in various interventions in advocating for workers’ rights in Timor-Leste, including policy discussions, and around 30 recommendations made by the KSTL were incorporated into the 2012 Manpower Act.
The statement also stated that, KSTL has taken many steps to ensure the protection of labor rights and actively participates in conflict prevention advocacy, social dialogue, and many other capacity-building for its structure and members in line with the basic principles of the 2012 Labor Law.
TATOLI
