Congress of the Sindicato Maritime, Energy and Transport Workers of Timor Leste - Affiliated to the ITF Offshore Task Force Group

25 February 2008

At its meeting of the “SMETTL Congress” held in Dili, Timor Leste, 22-23 February 2008 the 109 delegates present congratulated the Secretary of State for Natural Resources, “Alfredo Pires” for accepting the invitation from the host trade union SMETTL to open and participate in the unions 2^nd Congress meeting and thanked the Secretary of State for his personal support and asked him to convey to President Jose Ramos Horta congresses’ best wishes and a speedy recovery.

Congress welcomed the immediate response by the Timor Leste Government to engage in dialogue with representatives from SMETTL, Konfederasaun Sindikato Timor Leste (KSTL), under the umbrella of the “ITF OTFG Timor Development and Coordination Committee” with the view to exploring the opportunities to expand the work of this group and to include representatives from the oil and gas industry and stakeholders declaring an interest in this sector, and to develop training for offshore oil and gas workers including stevedoring training.

Conference also welcomed the “Timor Leste Government’s” progressive approach to introduce new regulatory measures to develop job and training opportunities for Timor Leste workers and acknowledges the interest shown in the work of the KSTL / SMETTL by both the local representatives of the Norwegian and Australian Governments based in Dili, Timor Leste.

The Conference called upon the Government of Timor Leste to assist with “some urgency” to work with the ITF OTFG “Timor Development Co-ordinating Committee” to organise a meeting or workshop of the industry stakeholders to identify employment, training and skill opportunities in the oil and gas sector, and to develop further terms of reference in this regard.

The Congress also acknowledged the presence and support of the OTFG delegates attending the meeting as guests from Norway, Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia and United Kingdom.

For further information contact:

Paulino da Costa SMETTL

Mick Doleman MUA +61 418 391 528

Norrie McVicar ITF OTFG Chairman

ENDS

For more information contact ITF press officer, Sam Dawson.
Direct line: + 44 (0)20 7940 9260.
Email: dawson_sam@itf.org.uk

International Transport Workers' Federation - ITF:
HEAD OFFICE
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Tel: + 44 (0) 20 7403 2733
Fax: + 44 (0) 20 7375 7871
Email: mail@itf.org.uk
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