Result achieved
A policy measure to improve the financial and administrative governance of the social protection system, making it more robust has been adopted and operationalized (Step 3)
Number of countries that have adopted or operationalized policy measures to improve the financial and administrative governance of the social protection system, making it more robust (Step 3)
Linked projects
Outcome summary
The Government of Timor-Leste, through the Ministry of Social Solidarity and Inclusion, launched its first Social Security Portal in February 2024, providing citizens, workers, and employers with online access to rights, obligations, and guidance.Outcome achieved
The Government of Timor-Leste, through the Ministry of Social Solidarity and Inclusion (MSSI), launched its first Social Security Portal in February 2024, providing citizens, workers, and employers with online access to rights, obligations, and guidance. The platform enhanced transparency, improved access to services, and represented a milestone in digital inclusion and modernization of social protection.
In January 2024, the government advanced the national dialogue on sustainable financing for social protection, guided by an analysis of fiscal space that outlined eight financing options. The analysis ensured alignment with Timor-Leste's Social Protection Strategy and the SDGs and was prepared in consultation with workers' and employers' organizations.
The government further achieved a crucial step in strengthening evidence-based policymaking, monitoring and advocacy through the development of the first Statistical Bulletin on Social Protection (2017–2024), launched on 8 July 2025. The Bulletin transformed scattered administrative data into coherent, integrated and accessible information, and provided up-to-date figures on social protection coverage, adequacy and expenditure.
In 2025, the cost projections of the National Strategy for Social Protection (2023–2030) were updated using the ILO Rapid Assessment Protocol, reflecting pension increases and revised family cash transfers.
The National Institute for Social Protection (INSS), with social partners, launched awareness campaigns through seven short videos focusing on the importance, models, and myths of social security, especially to extend contributory coverage to informal workers.
On 13 March 2024, the government validated the comparative analysis and results of the Timorese social protection legal framework against the ILO Social Security (Minimum Standards) Convention, No. 102, and jointly defined a way forward for the country to promote and ratify the Convention.
ILO's contribution to the outcome
The ILO, with funding support from Portugal and GIZ, supported the creation of Timor-Leste’s Social Security Portal. Assistance included financial support, technical guidance, and training for INSS and MSSI staff, strengthening national capacity for managing digital social protection services.
The ILO developed a policy paper on “Fiscal Space for Social Protection in Timor-Leste” and convened a high-level roundtable with government ministries and social partners.
The ILO supported the production of the first Statistical Bulletin on Social Protection by providing technical training for the MSSI, INSS, and National Institute of Statistics of Timor-Leste (INETL) staff. Training culminated with validation and technical seminars in 2024 and 2025. The process produced an action plan for a second bulletin and strengthened evidence-based policymaking, with the first bulletin officially launched in July 2025.
The ILO provided technical assistance to update the Rapid Assessment Protocol model to reflect recent reforms.
The ILO financed and guided the production of social security awareness videos. These campaigns clarified rights and obligations, supported informal workers’ inclusion, and reinforced tripartite cooperation.
The ILO provided comprehensive technical assistance and capacity-building support to key stakeholders, which was essential in deepening their understanding of the comparative analysis between the ILO Convention No. 102.