The President of the Timor-Leste Trade Union Confederation (KSTL), Almerio Vila-Nova, said that the current minimum wage is not enough to meet the needs of families, especially as the cost of goods continues to rise in the market.
“The national minimum wage of $115 is not enough to meet the basic needs of a family. We urgently call on the Government to increase the minimum wage from $115 to $160 per month, so that it can adequately support workers’ family needs,” said President Vila-Nova.
He explained that the $115 minimum wage is far too low, especially given that food and beverage prices have risen by nearly 60%, which significantly lowers workers’ standard of living. Vulnerable workers continue to face the risk of living in poor and difficult conditions.
He added that workers in Timor-Leste are still facing historic wage inequality and continue to live in vulnerable situations.
“Our cost of living is extremely high, yet we are spending long hours at work fighting for a wage that remains too low,” he emphasised.
He said that the way to address poverty and hardship in Timor-Leste is to raise the minimum wage for all workers, whether they are in formal employment, domestic work, or within public or private organisations.
He also called on the Government to speed up the approval of the National Minimum Wage Decree Law to respond to the urgent needs of workers across Timor-Leste.
Meanwhile, worker Madalena Lay Gonçalves said that despite years of calling for an increase in wages, their salaries remain unchanged. She added that they work from morning to night, yet their pay has not increased.
“We work without knowing the hours, we start at seven in the morning and sometimes finish at eight or nine at night, but we still only earn $115. Some of my colleagues earn just $80 or $70,” she said.
She added that they are not satisfied with the current $115 minimum wage, as it does not cover household needs.
“We’re asking the Government, if possible, to increase our wages a little so we can feel that what we’re earning is enough to support our daily lives,” she appealed.
The Deputy Prime Minister, Mariano Assanami Sabino, said that the national minimum wage law is already under discussion by the Council of Ministers and will be further considered.
“We already have a wage standard, but we are having discussions to reach approval, even if gradually, so that it can respond to the real living conditions of our workers,” he said.
He added that the Government must now take note, because the cost of living is high and everything is expensive.
