DILI, 30 April 2025 (TATOLI) – The Timorese Workers’ Union (KSTL-Tetun) called on the Government to increase the national minimum wage from US$115 to US$150.
KSTL spokesperson Francelina Soares argues that the government should urgently increase the minimum wage, as it is unfair for workers to spend long hours earning only US$115.
She said that workers with low salaries can’t afford to live a decent life, as the cost of living continues to rise.
The scale of Timor-Leste’s minimum wage hadn’t been reviewed since its approval by the National Working Committee of SEFOPE, in May 2012.
Regarding how frequently the minimum wage should be adjusted, KSTL has previously stated that the minimum wage scale should be revised every two years.
The President of the Republic, José Ramos Horta, also urged the Government last year to increase the national minimum wage to US$150.
Horta said that the current minimum wage does not provide adequate income for a person to meet their own basic needs or those of their family.
Meanwhile, Zelinha Da Costa Noronha, a Timorese worker from One Love Motorcycle Repair Shops said that the minimum wage of US$115 is not enough to cover all of the living costs in Timor-Leste.
“I think, it’s time for the Government to increase the minimum wage to help the poor from getting poorer,” she stressed.
KSTL has so far registered more than 300,000 workers across the country, the majority of whom earn US$15 per month.
In addition, Soares also called on the General Labour Inspectorate (IGT) of SEFOPE to carry out regular inspections of companies to ensure a safe working environment for workers and to promote decent work in the country, adding that regular inspections are also crucial to protect workers from being exploited by their employers.
She said that IGT must disseminate the Law on Safety, Health, and Hygiene at Work, which establishes the general principles and rules aimed at promoting safety, health, and hygiene in the workplace. The law was approved by the National Parliament in 2023.
TATOLI
