DILI, 15 March 2023 ( TATOLI) -The Timor – Leste Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI- TL) urged eight constitutional Governments to limit subsidies saying giving them subsidies would make them lazy and unmotivated.
“CCI does not prohibit the government from giving subsidies to people but the Government should limit subsidies to prevent people from being mentally lazy and unmotivated. Subsidies can be given to the most vulnerable people,” Vice President of CCI-TL, Rui Castro told Tatoli at his office in Acait, Dili.
He added, to improve the people’s standard of living, the government must orient the people to work hard, not expecting subsidies from the government.
“A good life must be earned from hard work, not from subsidies. Therefore, everyone, especially farmers and entrepreneurs is encouraged to work hard and the government also limits subsidies to prevent laziness,” he said.
Rui Castro highlighted that currently, most young people are not optimizing agricultural land because the government often provides subsidies.
“More than 500,000 hectares of agricultural land are currently not optimized by farmers because much Timorese youth only expect subsidies from the government while a good life is not obtained from these subsidies,” he concluded.
So far, the Government has provided subsidies to the people of Timor – Leste such as; groceries, subsidies for the elderly, and others to diversify economic growth in Timor-Leste.
Journalist: Camilio de Sousa
Editor: Nelia B.
