National Employment Strategy 2017-2030.

The vision of the Timor-Leste National Employment Strategy is to generate productive employment opportunities for the Timorese population, reducing unemployment and transitioning to formal employment opportunities, as a central means of nation building and wealth creation. The Timor-Leste 2017-2030 NES is inspired by and aligned with the 2011-2030 SDP and aims to strengthen and facilitate the operationalisation of the employment dimensions of the SDP, providing a framework for a strengthened and cohesive focus on employment. Therefore the objectives of the NES are: To provide a strategy for GOTL and civil society to have a stronger and more cohesive focus on employment. To operationalise the employment dimensions of the SDP ensuring that employment is incorporated into macroeconomic and sectoral policies, as well as labour market strategies in particular in rural areas, and between people with and without disabilities.
The 2017 – 2030 NES builds on the previous NES, approved by Council of Ministers in 2011 but never fully implemented, and as such, it keeps the same structure of the three pillars: Pillar 1: Increasing labour market demand. Pillar 2: Improving labour market supply. Pillar 3: Strengthening labour market institutions. Under Pillar 1, the NES identifies four strategies aiming to increase labour market demand: 1. Promote Private sector generated employment. 2. Increase access to labour migration schemes. 3. Maximise the employment impact of Government spending. 4. Develop local potential.
Pillar 2 aims at increasing labour market demand to be matched by a strengthened labour market supply in order to respond to market needs and maximise the employment opportunities generated from developing the private sector and local potential, strengthening labour migration schemes and maximising government spending. Skills development is a crucial aspect of building human resources with a view to enable access to productive employment and maximise each individual’s capacity to participate fully and equally in the economic and social development of the country. Pillar 2 aims at the establishment and enforcement of labour market legislation and regulations, based on international labour standards and inspired by the best international practices, the strengthening of labour market institutions and the introduction of well-designed and cost-efficient active labour market policies are key parts of building the national labour market institutional framework.
Timor-Leste has signed various international conventions that promote gender equality, including the Convention for the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW). This pledge was followed by adopting a national Labour Code that includes international labour standards’ clauses on equal remuneration for men and women for equal work and non-discrimination in employment and occupation. The GOTL also has in place a National Strategy and Action Plan for Gender and Private Sector 2014 – 2017, which aims to promote women’s participation in the private sector. The SDP identifies gender mainstreaming as a priority to achieve and inclusive and fair society. The GOTL is strongly committed to reinforce gender equality and it is determined to not only provide a legal framework that supports women’s engagement in the labour force, but also display this in government policies, strategies, programmes and resource allocation. The NES is aligned with the Gender Mainstreaming Strategy, which included initiatives to raise awareness among staff and ensuring that gender aspects are a regular part of management and resource allocation practices.