Strengthening Trade Unions

Union Aid Abroad–APHEDA together with the ICFTU-APRO, the ACTU and a number of Australian unions, are assisting the formation and strengthening of unions in East Timor.

The Konfederasaun Sindicatu Timor Lorosa'e (KSTL) was established in February 2001, and held its first National Congress in February 2003 and its second National Congress in February 2005.

During the second congress, Zito Da Costa was re-elected as the president of KSTL, followed by Francisco Fernandez from the ET Teachers Union as vice president, Rigo Montiero, the Secretary, and Januario Suarez from the ET Teachers Union was nominated the vice secretary.

Prior to the 1999 ballot, there were teachers and nurses' unions. Since then, other unions have been formed and the following is a list of the unions in East Timor today:

• East Timor Teachers Union (ETTU)
• East Timor Nurses Union (ETNA)
• Public Service Workers Union
• East Timor Agricultural Union (SATL)
• Maritime and Transport Union (UMTTL)
• East Timor Construction Union (UCTL)
• Retail Workers Union
• Hotel Bar and Restaurant Workers Union
• Security and Protective Workers Union.

The KSTL facilitates the formation and strengthening of trade unions in East Timor, as well as assists in the collective bargaining and dispute settlement processes. The KSTL has been active in helping trade unions to participate in, and respond to, the drawing up of the new labour code for East Timor.

The KSTL is also assisting unions with recruiting and organising, negotiating collective agreements, undertaking collective actions, trade union training and strengthening their administrative and management capacity. Union Aid Abroad-APHEDA has been supporting KSTL since 2000 and the achievements are as follows:

• Training 553 labourers and workers on the East Timor labour code, human rights, and basic occupational health and safety requirements.
• Training KSTL executive members and organisers on finance management, book keeping and filing.

Another important initiaive is the training of health workers in East Timor. Union Aid Abroad-APHEDA has facilitated the training of 8 nurses from Dili hospitals and 13 nurses from the districts for six weeks in English language and computer literacy with the support of the Australian Nurses Federation. The training enabled nurses to read medicine labels and to record necessary medical information in computers.

You can support this work in East Timor by becoming a donor today.

Download full report:
Trade Union Strengthening 2005-06 Donor Report [ pdf ]

© Union Aid Abroad - APHEDA 2003.

Last Modified: Saturday, 31-Mar-2007 12:08:30 EST
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