DILI, 28 july 2023 (TATOLI) – Rogério de Araujo Mendonça, Secretary of State for Training, Vocational and Employment (SEFOPE), claims that, Timor-Leste government implemented a policy of sending Timorese workers abroad due to a lack of important industrial companies operating in Timor -Leste.
“Currently, we are facing industrial limitations in Timor-Leste to accommodate more workers, therefore the government through SEFOPE is conducting bilateral cooperation with Australia and South Korea to send Timorese workers to work in both countries,” said Rogerio de Araújo Mendonca to the journalist at Timor-Lodge Comoro.
Mendonça explained that the policy of sending workers to Australia and South Korea was carried out to reduce unemployment in the country while at the same time increasing their family’s economy, including the country’s economic growth.
In addition, Timorese employees will acquire knowledge and experience from abroad that they may apply to Timor-Leste in the future.
On this occasion, Mendonça expressed the Government’s SEFOPE commitment to increase the capacity of Timorese to participate in the job market, by facilitating and supporting all training centers including the Tibar training center, Becora Training Center, and other related training centers to empower Timorese Youth to compete in the job market especially industrial jobs to operate in Timor-Leste in the future.
Likewise, Filomeno Soares, National Director of Exterior Employment (DNEE), announced that currently 55,000 Timorese youths have registered in the SEFOPE database and are eligible to work in Australia and South Korea.
“We have 55,000 Timorese youths in the database, this is one of the preparations made by SEFOPE and is ready to be processed based on demand for workers from Australia and South Korea,” he said.
He also explained that the workers would be recruited directly by the company owner, not SEFOPE who was responsible for the recruitment process. Recruitment procedures are very transparent and free of discrimination, SEFOPE only assists in the selection of papers while the interview process will fully be given by the companies.
“I ask workers candidates to prepare themselves psychologically and specially prepare language skills, English and Korean because all subjects are given by the companies. SEFOPE will only facilitate the companies with the document selection. Therefore, I ask all Timorese youth to stop speculating the rumors on the recruiting process, because the recruitment of workers is based on their skills and abilities,” he concluded.
Journalist: Camillo de Sousa
Editor: Nelia B.
