Democraticrepublic of Timor-Leste

DEMOCRATICREPUBLIC OF TIMOR-LESTE

23rd Session of the Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families

Opening Statement of H.E. Marciano da Silva

Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Timor-Leste to the United Nations and Other International Organizations

Geneva, 3 September 2015

Mr. President

Honourable members

Ladies and gentlemen

Introdution

It is a great privilege and honour for me to be representing my Government today in this presentation of our National Report. With this report we are going to illustrate the efforts and achievements Timor-Leste has made in the past years in compliance with the obligations established by the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families.

First and foremost, my Government wishes to reiterate its commitment in maintaining a constructive interactive dialogue with this Committee.

Let me take this opportunity to introduce you the rest of our delegation, Mr. Frederico Pereira de Matos – Director of Employment Placement from the timorese General Labour Inspection, Ms. Melisa Silva Caldas – Legal Advisor from the Secretariat of State for Emplyment Policy and Professional Training and Mr. Miguel Vila Nova da Silva – Human Rights Officer from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation.

Presentation of Report

General Information

TheConstitutionof theDemocratic RepublicofTimor-Leste (C-RDTL) statesthat international conventions,treatiesandagreementsappliedintheinternallegalsystem ofTimor-Leste,throughtheirapproval,ratificationoraccessionandpublication inthe officialgazette,haveauthorityandinvalidateallcontrarylegalnorms.

Theinternationalsystemofhumanrightscontinuestooccupyaprivileged placeinthedomesticlegalframeworkand the1948UniversalDeclarationof Human Rightsprovidesstandardsandguidancefortheinterpretationofthefundamentalrights enshrinedintheConstitution of the RDTL.

The article 16 of our Constitution enshrinestheprincipleofuniversalityandequality.Morespecifically, we highlight the Immigration and Asylum Act (Law No.9/2003, 15 October) and the Labour Law (Law No.4/2012, 21 February) including provisions relating totheprotectionof therightsof migrantworkers.

In relation to migration, Timor-Leste has signed aMemorandumofUnderstanding(MOU)withthe Republicof KoreaandalsowithAustraliatosendTimoresecitizenstoworkin thesetwocountries, throughtechnicalcooperationbetweentheGovernment agencies thatsendthemigrantworkersandtheagenciesthat receive themigrant workers.

In 2013, the Government of Timor-Leste established the National Directorateof Job Placement &Protection fortheUnemployed (DNKEPD). Thisdirectoratehas thecompetencetoregulatetheprocessofallocatingplacementstomigrantworkerswho come to work inTimor-Leste. Nowthereisalso aTechnicalWorking Group to prepareanationalactionplanonlabourmigration.

Also in 2013, the Government established theNationalDirectorateforHuman RightsandCitizenship, withthecompetencetopromotepolicesonhumanrights,to implementallmeasures torespectinternationaltreatiesratifiedintheaforementioned area,to draftnationalactionplanson humanrightsandto monitortheir application, among others.

Between 2011 and March 2015, the National Directorate for Visas (DNV), within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation issued 3,441 work visas, with the majority of recipients from Indonesia, China and the Philippines.

Timor-Leste has established, in 2006, theOffice of theOmbudsmanfor Human RightsandJustice(PDHJ)asanindependentorgan,notsubjecttothedirection, controlorinfluenceof anypersonorauthority,withthecompetencetoexamine complaints, conductinvestigations and make appropriate recommendations tothe competent organs to prevent and remedyany illegalities orinjustices. TheOmbudsmanwasgiven“A”statusbytheInternationalCoordinating CommitteeofNationalHumanRightsInstitutionsafterreviewswereconductedin2008 and in2013. Anycitizenwhosuffersaviolationofhis/herrightscansubmitacomplainttotheOffice oftheOmbudsmanfor HumanRightsand Justiceby visiting theinstitutionatits nationalheadquartersoratoneofitsfourregionaloffices,orviatelephone,internetand alsoviaanyofthecomplaintboxesthathavebeensetupin65 Sub-District Administrations.

TodatetheOmbudsmanhas notyet received acomplaintrelatingtotherightsof migrantworkersandtheirfamilies.

TheOfficeofthe Ombudsmanhas 110 officersandhas anannual budget ofnearly US$1.4million.

WiththesupportoftheUnitedNationsOfficeonDrugsand Crime(UNDOC),the HumanRights Adviser’s Unitand theInternationalOrganizationforMigration (IOM), borderpoliceofficers haveincreasedtheirknowledgeabout humantrafficking issues and protection forvictims, via training programs in2013and2014.

Incivilsociety,thereareatleastfourorganizationsinvolvedintheprotectionofthe rightsofmigrant workers: theTimor-LesteChamberofCommerceandIndustry (CCI- TL),ConfederationofTimoreseTrade Unions (KSTL),HAK Associationand Women andChildren’sLegal Aid(ALFELA). Theseorganizations conductmonitoringonthe rightsof migrant workersandtheirfamilymembers,providelegalassistancetomigrant workers andarealsoinvolvedinorpursuemediationincasesofconflictbetween workersandemployers.

Regarding the employment agencies, in Timor-Leste, thereare two agenciesthathavebeenlicensed by theGovernment for fiveyears,andareabletorenewthislicenseforthesameperiod.Thesetwoagenciesare KONEKTOand InvestPeople(IP),andtodatetherehavebeen nocomplaints against them.

Afterthereferendum in 1999thatsawviolencecommitted bypro-integrationmilitia groupsagainstthepopulation,nearly200,000TimoresefledtoWestTimor. By2002, 196,000ofthesepeoplehadreturnedtoTimor-Leste. Atthesametime,whenTimor- Lesterestoreditsindependenceastheresultoftheaforementioned referendum, Timoresepeople, especiallythoseliving inAustralia, Portugal and Mozambiquealso returned toTimor-Leste,butthereis nodata onhowmany returned fromthese countries.

Ten yearsago,whenanopportunitywaspresentedtoworkoverseas,nearly33,209 TimoresewenttoIndonesia,Australia,GreatBritain(EnglandandNorthernIsland) and Portugal.

Inrelationto the1,817workerssentbySecretariat of State for Employment Policy and Vocational TrainingtotheRepublicofKorea,287 have returnedto Timor-Leste and 1,530are stillworking there.From atotalof 277 whowent to Australia, 141have returned and 136 arestillthere.

Information relating to the articles of the Convention

ThePublicProsecutionService,throughthepolice,areableto investigate crimes,and the Office of the OmbudsmanforHuman Rights andJustice alsohas the competence to analyzecomplaintsand forwardthemor explainhowtheycanbesubmittedtothe courtsorotherrelevantauthorities.National Directorate for Labour Relations (DNRT)and theNationalDirectorateforLabour Conditions(DNKT)withintheInspectorate-General for Labouralsohavethecompetencetoanalyzecomplaintsfrom allmigrantworkersandtoexamineanyviolationsoftheirrights.UndertheNational Directorate for LabourRelations there istheMediationandConciliationService(MCS)thatistaskedwithresolvingconflicts thatarisefromindividualorcollectiveworkrelations. Whenthereisnoagreement,the MediationandConciliationServicewill forward the decisiontotheLabourArbitrationCouncil(KAT).

Between2000and2015,theMediationandConciliationServiceprovidedsupportin2,647casesofwork related conflictresolution,and42caseshaveinvolvedforeignworkers,comprising33menand 9 women.

Between 2012 and 2014, the NationalDirectorateforLabour Conditions received complaints from13 foreign workers, comprising8 menand5women.

Duringthelasttwoyears, National Directorate for Labour Relationshasconducted awareness raisingfor4,241workers, comprising3,990Timoreseand251foreignersandtheNational Directorate for Labour Conditionshasprovidedawareness raisingfora total of2,537 national andforeignworkers combined.

TheTimor-LesteConstitutionstates that allpeople havethesamerights and duties without discriminationofany kind,basedonthe principle ofequality thatis enshrined inArticle16.2. The LabourCodestates thatallworkers, whichinclude migrant workers, havetheright to equalityofopportunitiesandtreatmentinsofarasaccessto employment, trainingand professionalcapacitybuilding,workconditionsandremuneration.The lawalso includes norms that prohibit discrimination, stating that no workermay, eitherdirectly orindirectly,bebenefited,negativelyaffected,deprived ofany right or exemptedfromanydutyonthebasisofcolour,race,civilstatus,gender,nationality, ascendencyorethnicorigin,socialpositionoreconomicstatus,politicalorideological, convictions,religion,educationorphysicalcondition,age andhealth.

AccesstohealthcareinTimor-Lesteisequalfornationalsand foreigners,including migrantworkersandtheirfamilies.Everyonewho receiveshealthtreatmentand medicine inhospitals andhealthcentersdoesnotneed to pay. TheGovernment, throughtheMinistryofHealth (MH)allocates US$2,000(twothousandAmerican dollars)annuallytoforeigners.

Secretariat of State for Employment Policy and Vocational Trainingis requiredtoregulatelabourrelations betweenemployeesandemployersinorderto ensurecompliancewiththelaw,and through itsInpectorate-General for Labourhasconductedregularinspectionsof1,819workplaces withatotal numberof5,326foreignworkers, comprising 4,157menand 1,169women, andconductedjointinspectionsof146workplaces,involvingallworkers,withatotal of 2,063nationals and foreigners.

Regarding racism, discriminatory conduct, ill-treatment and violence directed at migrant workers and members of their family, my country has ratifiedtheInternationalConventionontheEliminationofAllFormsof Racialand, in addition,thePenalCodecategorizesracialdiscrimination,hatredorviolenceasacrime punishable with4 to12 yearsimprisonment.

Incases ofadministrativecrimes orinfractions, including those relating tomigration, thelawensuresthatpeoplewhoare involvedinaninvestigation,arrestanddetention havetherighttoobtaininformationabouttheir rights,freedomfrom tortureand maltreatmentandtherightto afairtrial,includinglegal aidthat isfreeofcharge, providedby the Officeofthe Public Defender. Timor-Leste does not yet havespecificdetention facilities formigration related issues,and there is onlyoneand thesame facility.

Whenconductinganinspection,theMigration Serviceidentifiesirregularmigrantworkers,because, forexample,theydonotpossessaworkvisa.TheMigration Servicetakesalternativemeasuresto detention,suchasnotifyingtheworkertomakeastatementattheMigration Serviceoffice.After analyzingirregularsituations,theMigration ServiceDirectorhasthecompetencytoissueadecision, either to notify the worker to pay a fineand to normalizethesituationorto providehim/herwiththeoptionto voluntarily depart fromtheterritory ofTimor-Leste.

According to the Organic Structure of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, the National Directorate for Consular Issues (DNAK) provides protectionandconsularassistancetothe Timoresecommunityoverseas,suchas protectionforthefamiliesofdetainees, resolvingproblemsofrepatriation, coordinating thetransferofmortalremainsand providing monitoringand informing theGovernmentofrisksand emergenciesaffectingTimoresecitizensoverseasto organizetheirevacuation. Consularservices inthe embassies provideprotectionto Timoresecitizens(regularorirregular)overseas,including thecorefunctionof assistingallTimoresecitizens.

WhenforeigncitizensinTimor-Lestearearrested,detainedorexpelled,thecompetent authorities immediately communicatewiththeirembassiessotheycanprovide assistancetotheir citizens.

Regarding the rights of children of migrant workers abroad, theLawonCitizenshipestablishesthatallpeoplewhoarebornintheterritoryof Timor-Lestetoparents whoarenotTimoresehavetherighttoobtaintheiroriginal nationality. Those who arebornoverseas toTimoreseparentshavethesameright. Therefore,childrenbornintheterritoryofTimor-Leste,toTimoreseparentsorwith oneforeignparentorbothforeignparents,havetherighttoimmediately register nationalityatthetimeof birthviaacertificatethatisissuedbythehospitalorhealth centerwherethe child wasbornorat the Ministry of Justicecivilregistry.

Inaddition,theMinistry of JusticedraftedandsubmittedadraftlawonCivilRegistry whichis currentlyawaitingdiscussionandapprovalfrom theCouncilofMinisters.Toensure thebirth registrationofallpeopleinTimor-Leste,in2015,civil registryofficersand alsolocaladministrationofficersweregiventrainingby UNICEF,specificallyonthe registration procedureaftergiving birth.

Regardingaccessto schools,allschool-agechildrenhavethesamerighttoaccess publicschoolswithoutdiscriminationbasedonnationality.Todatetherehasnotbeen acomplaintthatapublicschool hasprohibitedthechildrenofmigrant workersfrom attending school.

TheImmigrationandAsylumActrecognizestherighttofamilyreunificationinArticles 44-46.However,thisrightdoesnotcoverallforeigners, because the mainrequirement forsubmitting arequest forreunificationisthepossessionofavalidresidence authorization.To obtainthisauthorization,itisnecessarytogo throughtheprocessof obtainingapermanentresidencevisa,andthereshouldbenohiddenimpedimentsthat wouldconstitutea basisforvisadenialas wellasactualpresenceinthenational territory.

Inresponsetothecurrentsituation,economicdevelopmentand increasingmigration flows,inMay2015,the CouncilofMinistersapproveda newlawonMigrationand Asylumthatwas submittedto NationalParliamentwitharequestforittobediscussed andapprovedasapriorityandmatterofurgency.Inthis new law,the rightto family unificationisnotjustgrantedtothosewhohavearesidenceauthorization,italsocovers migrantworkersso astoavoid any discrimination.Thislawprovides fortemporary residenceauthorization,throughapermanentresidencevisaandalsoanewtypeof temporarystayvisaforfamilieswhoaredependentonaforeignerholdingthespecial stayauthorization.

Todate,therearenobilateralormultilateralagreementsbetweenTimor-Lesteandother countriesto regulatetheflowofmigrantworkers,howeverthereis, as mentioned previously, aMOUwiththe RepublicofKorea andanMOUwithAustraliatosend Timoreseto work there.These Timoreseworkersarenotsubjecttodoubletaxation,astheyonlypaytaxintheRepublic of Korea and inAustralia, and donot pay taxin Timor-Leste.

TheaforementionedTimoreseworkersmakecontributionstothe socialsecuritysystem inthesetwocountries, and therefore have the right to receive assistancefromtheState. When they returnto Timor-Lestethey cangettheirinsurancepremiumandcontributions back.

TheImmigrationandAsylumAct establishesthreetypesofvisas:ordinaryvisa,work visaandpermanent residencevisa.Whenamigrantworker hasobtained aworkvisa he/shedoesnotneedto obtainanothervisatoresideinTimor-Leste.Accordingtotheaforementionedlaw,aworkvisaisvalidforone year anda permanentresidence visais validforsixmonths.

PursuanttoArticle8.3oftheImmigrationandAsylumAct,whichguaranteestheright towork,apersonwho hasobtained awork visaforaparticularjobwhich ends before theexpirationofhis/hervisawillnotbedisadvantagedinregardstotheremainingtime left,butinordertostartadifferentjobhe/sheisrequiredtoobtainexpressauthorization from theDepartmentofMigrationand theapprovaloftheGovernmentbody responsibleforlabour.

Forthe purpose ofconsideringthe circumstancesfaced bythepeople wholivenearthe borderandregularlycrossbackandforthtoaccesstraditionalmarketsorvisitfamilyor takepartintraditionalceremonies,Timor-LesteandIndonesiaentered intoan agreementontraditionalbordercrossingsandregulatedmarketsviaParliamentary ResolutionNo.21/2009,28May,tofacilitatethemovementofcitizens,intheformofa bordercrossingpasswhichalsocoversminors.Thispassisvalidforoneyearandallows theholderto enterandpassthroughcertainborderposts, and whentheholdercrosses he/she canstay onthe otherside for up to 10 days.

Thisagreementnotonlyfacilitatesandregulatestheirregularmigrationpracticesofthe communitiesonbothsidesofthebordersothey canconductbusinessandstrengthen family relations, butalsohas theaimofreducingirregularmigrationandsmuggling networks.

In2010,Timor-Leste established aBorderManagement System (BMS)relating to migrationtoidentify thosewhooverstaythetimepermittedontheirvisaand who resideillegallyinTimor-Leste.Whenavisaexpiresandtheholderdoesnot exitthe nationalterritoryordoes not extendthevisa,thesystemimmediatelyissues a notificationtotheMigrationServicetosearchfortheholderofthatvisaat thelocation thatwasregisteredwhenthepersonenteredTimor-Leste.

Inaddition,Timor-LesteisamemberoftheBaliProcessandfromtheoutsetithasbeen acknowledged that Timor-Leste as a new State in the Asia-Pacific region might encountermajorchallengesjustlikeothercountriesinrelationtoirregularmigration, human trafficking and othertransnational organizedcrime. Therefore,Timor-LesteenteredintoabilateralagreementwithIndonesiatopreventand combattransnationalcrimeandtodevelopcollaborationwiththeIndonesianpoliceand the National Police of Timor-Lestewhichcommencedin2010foratermofthreeyears,andwasrenewedin2013 forthesameterm.

Thesemeasuresdo not only strengthencollaborationand capacity building to prevent and combattransnationalcrimes,buttheyalso facilitatethecontrolofmigrationflows throughthe exchangeofinformationandsupport theGovernment todeveloppolicies and programs forthemigrationservicetocoverallareas.

TheStateofTimor-Leste,throughSecretariat of State for Employment Policy and Vocational Training,providesassistanceto migrantworkers whoreturntoTimor-Leste,inparticularthosereturningfromtheRepublicofKoreaand Australia,toregisterthemselvesat employmentcenters.Secretariat of State for Employment Policy and Vocational Trainingalsoprovides counselingandmediationservicestothosewho areseekingtrainingoremployment overseasordomestically,through alabourmarketinformationsystemcalledSIMU- BUKA (Receive-Find).

Inrelationtosocialreintegration,therehasbeennoinformationtodatethatanymigrant workersandmembersoftheirfamilieshaveencounteredproblemswhentheyhave returnedtoTimor-Leste.Normallythosewhoreturnarewell-andwarmlyreceivedby thecommunity.

Regarding the combat of trafficking and smuggling of migrants, Timor-Lestehas ratifiedtheConventionAgainstTransnationalOrganizedCrime throughParliamentary ResolutionNo.26/2009,9September,theAdditional ProtocolagainsttheSmugglingofMigrantsby Land,Sea and Airand theAdditional ProtocoltoPrevent,SuppressandPunishTraffickinginPersons,EspeciallyWomenand Children.Takingtheseconventionsfurther,Timor-Lesteconsiders humantrafficking tobeacrimeagainstpersonallibertythatispunishable with8to20years imprisonment,orifaggravated,12to25years. In additionto strengthenthe existing legislation,theCouncilofMinistersapprovedalawagainsthumantraffickingthatis awaitingapproval and adoptionby theNationalParliament.

ThenewMigrationandAsylumActalsoprovidesspecialprotectiontovictimsof humantrafficking. Inthislaw,theGovernmenthasthedutyto ensurethatvictimsof humantraffickingandtheirfamiliesare providedwithmeansofsubsistence,residence, appropriatephysicalandmental healthtreatment,protection,securityandlegal assistanceand atwo-yeartemporaryresidence authorization.

In2011,theGovernmentestablishedaWorkingGrouponTrafficking,ledbytheMinistry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation and comprisingministries,national and internationalorganizations including the International Organization for Migration. UnderthisWorkingGroup, asub-committee was establishedtodraftspecificlegislationonhumantraffickingand anothersub-committee was setup to draft a national actionplan.

Othermeasuresto combat humantraffickingincludethe establishmentofa Vulnerable Persons UnitwithintheNational Police of Timor-Lestetoinvestigatecasesofgenderbasedviolence,which includedomesticviolence,abduction,child abuse,humantraffickingand othercrimes againstthosewhodo nothavethepowertodefendthemselves.Thisunitoperatesat thenationallevelwithonecommanderandtwo officers,andalsowithsevento eight officersattheMunicipallevel.In2012,therewereatotalof99officersinthe13 Municipalities.

In2012,theGovernment organizedanInternationalConferenceon HumanTrafficking withtheaimofpromotingunderstandingaboutnationalandinternationalmechanisms and thelegal frameworkon humantrafficking,especiallythe trafficking ofwomen.

In2010,atotalof 377 representatives from National Police of Timor-Leste andotherjudicialbodies,NGOs, Timorese embassyandconsularofficials,weregiventraining inallmunicipalities by International Organization for Migration onhumantraffickingand compliance withthelaw knownas HELPIII.

Civilsociety,throughPRADET,anationalcivil societyorganization,andwiththe supportoftheGovernment,throughtheMinistry of Social SolidarityandInternational Organization for Migration,establishedasafehousefor womenand childrenvictims of traffickingwhich provides themwithongoingsupport, assistance forphysical and mentalhealth,repatriationandreintegration/reinsertion. Between2008and2011,50victimsoftraffickingwereidentified.

In2011,thecourtsconvicted two foreigners,withoneofthembeingsentenced to13 yearsimprisonmentand theothertosixmonths forcommitting thecrimeof human trafficking.

A proposal on a LawtoPrevent andCombatHumanTrafficking will be submitted to the National Parliament forconsiderationandapprovalbeforeitispromulgatedbythePresidentof the Republic. It setoutstherightsandguaranteesforvictims,byestablishingaspecial fundtoprovidecompensationtovictimsoftraffickingandmeasuresthatneedto be takentoimproveandenhancenationalandinternationalcooperationandcoordination, especially in relationtoidentifying victims,and the exchange ofinformation.

Conclusion

My Government wishes to reaffirms its commitment to the protection and promotion of all the rights of migrant workers and their family. We believe it’s of most importance to continue to strengthen our relation with this Committee and we look forward to your comments.

I thank you.