The Government of Timor-Leste is to give its Public Servants a monthly food ration to supplement their income and boost agricultural production.
Each Government workers is to receive 35 kilos of rice, five kilos of corn, five kilos of beans, five kilos of mung beans and two kilos of soya.
In a statement, the Cabinet said the food subsidy had two objectives.
“It will allow the reduction of expenses with food acquisition and meals and promote the acquisition of agricultural products from domestic producers, stimulating the increase of productivity in the agricultural sector,” the Cabinet said.
“The delivery of food will be made quarterly by the bodies and services in which the beneficiaries are employed,” it said.
The Cabinet said it had also approved the creation of a monthly transport subsidy for holders of management and leadership positions and public administration employees who needed to travel, replacing the allocation of State vehicles.
“The creation of this subsidy aims to compensate for the regular costs of the beneficiaries related with transport and minimise the expense associated with the attribution of State vehicles and promote the rationalisation of the public vehicle fleet,” it said.
The Cabinet said the measure would mean almost 600,000 euros ($A970,600) would be saved on acquisition and maintenance of Government vehicles, as well as fuel.
In a further announcement, Prime Minister, Taur Matan Ruak (pictured) said the Cabinet had approved a draft law creating a National Agency for Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation, replacing the Unit of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation.
Mr Ruak said the new Agency would coordinate the activities of Government for “the achievement of the objectives and targets set out in the Government program”.
Dili, 21 September 2021
