Employers’ and workers’ organization of Timor-Leste signed a Joint Commitment to Eradicate Workplace Violence and Harassment

Both employers’ and workers’ organizations, with support from the ILO, are committed to create a working environment that is free from violence and harassment in Timor-Leste.

News | Dili, Timor-Leste | 15 December 2023
Jorge Serano, President of Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI-TL) and Almerio Vila-Nova, President of Timor-Leste Trade Union Confederation (KSTL) sign a joint commitment on agreement collaboration to prevent and eliminate violence and harassment at work. © ILO
Jorge Serano, President of Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI-TL) and Almerio Vila-Nova, President of Timor-Leste Trade Union Confederation (KSTL) signed a joint commitment on agreement collaboration to prevent and eliminate violence and harassment at work, including gender-based violence on 12 December in Dili. The signing was facilitated by the ILO and witnessed by the representative of the Secretariat of State for Vocational Training and Employment (SEFOPE), Angelo Veloso, National Director of Labour Relation and Frederico de Mator, General Labour Inspectorate.

We endorse zero tolerance towards violence and harassment and will communicate this pledge to all enterprises. No violence and harassment will be accepted."

Jorge Serano, President of Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI-TL)
The signing ceremony was preceded by the launch of the Pocket Guide on “Preventing and Addressing Violence and Harassment in the World of Work”. The pocket guide was developed by KSTL with technical assistance from the ILO through the EU Spotlight Initiative project. The guide serves as a tool for employers’ and workers’ organizations and other institutions to address and prevent workplace-related violence and harassment.

We strongly encourage the government to ratify C190, develop national laws prohibiting violence and harassment and urge employers to proactively take steps to prevent workplace violence and harassment."

Almerio Vila-Nova, President of Timor-Leste Trade Union Confederation (KSTL)
These initiatives reflect the proactive measures taken by employers’ and workers’ organizations in aligning with Timor-Leste’s commitment to the ILO Convention No. 190 on Violence and Harassment Convention (C190) and its Recommendation No. 206. Adopted in 2019, C190 places obligations on governments to develop national laws prohibiting violence and harassment in the workplace, and on employers to take proactive steps to prevent violence and harassment.

“We endorse zero tolerance towards violence and harassment and will communicate this pledge to all enterprises. No violence and harassment will be accepted,” affirmed President of CCI-TL Jorge.

While President KSTL Almerio highlighted the organization commitment to advocate transformative changes in Timor-Leste’s working culture that are free from harassment. “We strongly encourage the government to ratify C190, develop national laws prohibiting violence and harassment and urge employers to proactively take steps to prevent workplace violence and harassment,” he added.

Within the joint commitment, CCI-TL and KSTL are committed to working collaboratively to achieve the following objectives:
  1. Promote Zero tolerance towards violence and harassment.
  2. Promote a work culture based on mutual respect, human dignity and zero tolerance towards violence and harassment, including gender-based violence.
  3. Ensure the protection of all workers, irrespective of their contractual status and gender, against violence and harassment at work.
  4. Take preventive measures to fight all forms of violence and harassment linked with or arising out of work, including through digital tools.
  5. Promote the ratification of ILO Convention 190 and Recommendation 206.
  6. Adapt and promote the use of the “Pocket Guide on Preventing and Addressing Violence and Harassment in the World of Work” as a tool to assist employers and workers organisations, and other institutions to take practical steps to prevent and address violence and harassment at work.