The Minister of Planning and Strategic Investment, Eng. Gastão Francisco de Sousa, participated in the ordinary meeting of the Council of Ministers, held at the Government Palace in Dili. The meeting concluded with important decisions regarding public administration, budget management, international cooperation, and institutional reorganization.
1. Extraordinary Payment for Public Administration – 2025
The Council of Ministers approved the draft Decree-Law presented by the Minister of Finance, Santina José Rodrigues F. Viegas Cardoso, authorizing an extraordinary payment equivalent to one month’s salary for public administration workers in the 2025 fiscal year.
The decree aims to:
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Recognize the commitment and dedication of public administration workers;
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Provide year-end incentives to civil servants, agents, members of the defense and security forces, and workers under the Labour Law regime;
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Ensure the principle of universality, with the exception of foreign contracted staff.
The extraordinary payment equals the December 2025 salary and cannot exceed the salary of the President of the Republic. Processing will take place during December, using available funds from each employing entity. Should budget limitations arise, priority will be given to workers with the lowest salaries, with the remaining costs covered by the 2026 General State Budget.
2. Execution of the General State Budget – 2026
The Council of Ministers also approved the draft Decree-Law on the Execution of the General State Budget for 2026, presented by the Minister of Finance.
The decree:
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Establishes the rules for budget execution in 2026, in accordance with Law No. 8/2025 of 27 November;
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Defines the deadlines for closing the fiscal year and the rules for credit card use, fiduciary accounts, cash advances and petty cash funds;
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Introduces stricter control over extraordinary expenditures, official travel, per diem allowances and catering services;
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Reinforces transparency through mandatory semi-annual reporting on sensitive expenditures and use of petty cash funds.
These measures aim to ensure responsible management, fiscal discipline, and efficient execution of the 2026 budget.
3. Financial Contribution to the Timor-Leste Unit at the ASEAN Secretariat
The Council of Ministers approved the draft Government Resolution authorizing a financial contribution of USD 400,000 to the Timor-Leste Unit at the ASEAN Secretariat.
This contribution aims to:
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Ensure the continuous functioning of the unit;
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Support essential activities related to Timor-Leste’s full integration into ASEAN;
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Strengthen Timor-Leste’s institutional presence in ASEAN following its formal accession on 26 October 2025.
4. Reorganization of the Structure of RAEOA
The Council of Ministers analyzed the preliminary presentation by the Prime Minister, Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão, and the President of the Civil Service Commission (CFP), Agostinho Letêncio de Deus, on the proposed reorganization of the administrative structure of the Special Administrative Region of Oe-Cusse Ambeno (RAEOA).
The presentation highlighted:
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The need to review RAEOA’s management model;
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Harmonization with the national legal framework;
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Rationalization of human and organizational resources to improve public service efficiency.
5. Education Cooperation Agreement with ABC (Brazil)
Finally, the Council of Ministers granted full powers to the Minister of Education, Dulce de Jesus Soares, to sign a Cooperation Agreement in the education sector with the Brazilian Cooperation Agency (ABC).
The agreement will:
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Strengthen institutional capacity within the national education system;
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Promote knowledge exchange, training and technical assistance;
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Support joint initiatives and program development with the Federative Republic of Brazil.
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