PALM: Timor-Leste, Australia aim to increase the number of Timorese workers to 10,000 by 2028
DÍLI, 05 August 2026 (TATOLI) — The Government of Timor-Leste on Wednesday reviewed the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) programme, reaffirming the government’s commitment to working with Australia to expand Timorese participation in the scheme to 10,000 workers by 2028 while strengthening labour protections and institutional coordination.
The Council of Ministers received a briefing from Timor-Leste’s Ambassador to Australia, Inês Maria de Almeida, who presented an assessment of the programme’s implementation, the current participation of Timorese workers and prospects for its future expansion.
The ambassador said the PALM programme has become a key mechanism for creating employment opportunities, developing workforce skills and strengthening bilateral cooperation between Timor-Leste and Australia. Both countries have committed to increasing the number of Timorese workers in the programme to 10,000 by 2028.
The presentation also included updated data on Timorese participation in the scheme and outlined the main concerns raised by workers, particularly those related to working conditions and overall well-being.
The presentation identified the challenges that persist in implementing the program, particularly in protecting workers’ rights, strengthening institutional coordination, and valuing the skills acquired, while highlighting the benefits that PALM provides to the Australian economy by addressing labour needs in various sectors.
The importance of deepening bilateral cooperation was also highlighted, in order to ensure fair working conditions and maximise the programme’s economic and social benefits for both countries.
The Council of Ministers also took note of a set of recommendations to strengthen Timor-Leste’s position within the PALM Program, including strengthening coordination among national institutions, recognising the skills acquired by workers abroad, diversifying employment opportunities in new sectors of activity, and promoting a coordinated national approach to relations with Australian authorities, with a view to ensuring that the programme continues to develop within a framework of mutually beneficial partnership.
TATOLI
