Advocacy, education, organising and support for Timor’s domestic workers

Country

Timor Leste

Project Description

Promoting the dignity of decent and fair work for domestic workers, who are not currently protected under labour law. As well as advocating for legal and social protections, Working Women’s Centre Timor Leste (WWCTL) provides work skills training, advice and education on collective action and labour rights and has helped shift the perception of domestic work in Timor-Leste.

Project Partners

Working Women’s Centre

News from the field

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  Women united: Domestic workers in Timor-Leste

  Timorese working women have achieved better working conditions through the Working Women Centre Timor Leste (WWCTL) as many were living and working outside of any social protections as informal workers. WWCTL’s members have been inspired by this collective action to form a domestic workers union – to become the first of its kind in Timor-Leste. 

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  Standing up for domestic workers’ rights in Timor Leste

  Domestic work is seen as an increasingly important source of income for young women. However, their vulnerability is compounded by a lack of legal and social protections, with domestic work excluded from Timor Leste’s labour code.

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  WWCTL lead renewed push for equal protections for Timorese domestic workers

  The Working Women’s Centre Timor Leste renewed the campaign for equal legal and social protections for domestic workers in Timor Leste.

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  Domestic Worker’s Rights Take Centre-Stage in Timor Leste

  On International Domestic Workers’ Day, the Working Women’s Centre of Timor Leste launched a media campaign to promote the rights of domestic workers.

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  Celebrating International Domestic Worker’s Day 2021 – Timor Leste

  Despite serious setbacks in 2021, the Working Women's Centre of Timor Leste continue to campaign for and win rights for Domestic Workers.

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  “When there is nobody else to support us, we know Union Aid Abroad – APHEDA will stand by us” – Ricar Pascoela, APHEDA People

  "We are grateful to work with Union Aid Abroad – APHEDA because when there is nobody else to support us, we know APHEDA will stand by us."

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  APHEDA People – Elisabeth de Araujo: “We are strong together”

  When Elisabeth de Arajujo meets with domestic workers in the Timorese capital of Dili, she tells them: “you are a worker as me, I am also a worker – all of us are in the same position, so we have to come together to fight for better conditions.”

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  Campaign for Women’s Employment Rights in Timor Leste Ramps Up

  WWCTL is getting well-deserved recognition by international bodies such as UN Women and the ILO for their lobbying of government and community to improve conditions, rights and social protections for working women in Timor Leste.