Since the independent, Timor-Leste has received a lot of assistance from international communities, whether it is fund, equipment and capacity building. The international agencies; UN agencies and international agencies have been working on capacity building of human resources for the development of the nation. Billions of dollars have been pouring to the development of human resources through the difference of schemes; however the human resource is still less developed. At the international organization, the higher positions are occupied by international people and Timorese are at lower; assistant, associate, cleaner, security guards and gardener. People at lower positions were produced globally but lack of experience so the capability is not proved yet by the organization/ employment.
This situation also happens in the government organizations. Most of the high positions in the government are dominated by the people with international certification, with several acknowledgement of informal education, with proficiency in languages and skilled in computer programs. Those are categorized as skilled people as they are capable in technical skill, personal quality and widen connection. There is not much difficult for them to compete in labour market.
According to the Timor-Leste national statistic, the number of people who are competing in job market is increased rapidly every year, in the same time the unemployment rate is also increased. Even the government through the Secretary of State for the Vocational Training and Employment has dispatched many Timorese youth to South Korea and Australia every year but it does not reduce unemployment rate significantly. Timorese workers in Australia and South Korea are located in lower position as unskilled workers. The wages will be sent to the country; however they are no capable enough to be a manager when they return home, some case may happens but that is just relatively. It is clearly seen that the most company in Timor-Leste are managed by foreigners and Timorese are office staff with minor responsibility.
The job creation by Timorese people is still fewer compare to the foreigners in Timor-Leste, even just selling snacks in the streets, mostly occupied by foreigners; Indian, Indonesia, Vietnamese and other less development countries in ASIAN.
The major industrialization for job creation is in agriculture sector. But unfortunately, local people still manage the agriculture production by traditional manners so the yield of the product is not well utilized. The mindset of the agriculture is “harvest for eating or yields for selling to get money”. That is it. Even the agriculture is the major industry in contribution to the job creation however people are not interested in because there is no supporting sector such as infrastructure, matchmaking market, and distribution of product after harvesting. People are mostly compete in officer affairs such as administration & finance, IT, engineering, education and training, secretary, accounting, and other positions related in offices. For these places, people is required to have enough skills and others abilities with trusted certificates in order to be selected by the employments.
Various efforts have been running by organizations and companies to build up the skills in order to have opportunity for self-employed but is still not appeared yet. The job creations by the public and private institutions are not sufficient to accommodate many people. Higher education, skills and some other competencies are essential to master enough in order to compete in the labour markets.
By Octa S. de C.
Email: ocsulcar@yahoo.com
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