Development in Timor-Leste is physically appeared even not much yet. Many of buildings are constructed and protocol roads are also rehabilitated and upgraded. But it is necessary to recognize that roads connections in entire the capital are not up to the national standard yet. The roads were rehabilitated by the local constructions company but the buildings were almost built by the foreigners, mostly are Chinese, Philippines and Indonesian. These three countries have dispatched legally lot of their citizens to Timor-Leste but some are illegally enter. Some are against immigration law by holding tourist visa for working in the country. Those foreigners have their own type of occupation as below classification:
Construction (Chinese, Philippines, Indonesia)
Restaurant (Chinese, Philippines, Indonesia and India)
Tailor (India, Pakistan, Bangladesh)
Business (Shops, trade, shoes sewing) Indonesia, Chinese, Philippines, Vietnamese
Electronic supplier (Indonesia, India)
Furniture supplier (Indonesia, India)
English School (Philippines)
There are many people also from South Asian countries as Indian people, Pakistan, and Bangladesh, people from this region mostly engaged on tailors, restaurant, furniture and electronic shops. Uniquely all those are men and Timorese women are employed as staff for them. In the same time, most of them are married with Timorese women. This applies also to Chinese, those Chinese men who married with Timorese women and build a shop. This issue has become a major concern for public, especially local business people. There are two type of Chines in Timor-Leste, 1) old Chinese, this Chinese mean those who were already in Timor-Leste long time ago, they are Timorese; recently stated by H.E. Mr. Taur Matan Ruak, the president of RDTL. They have the same right and obligation as other local people. 2) New Chinese, this type of chines are those who are just arrived after the independence; those are foreigners from China, East Asian Country. Most people from this country are working on construction and business such as small shopping for basic needs and construction needs. Chinese do what that local business people can do. Chinese have occupied to the remotes areas of Timor-Leste; compete with the local business by selling basic needs in traditional market. It is obviously seen that Chinese known well the demand Timor-Leste people. It is not much the contribution but they created a job for uneducated people with some dollars every month.
Compare with Chinese, Indonesia and Philippine are also not few in Timor-Leste. Timor-Leste and Indonesia which are connected via boarder has facilitated people for coming and out easily to Timor-Leste. Indonesian people are working on business (seconder needs) and construction (construction works and construction needs). Philippine also offer English School for kids, this type of intervention is significant for people of English improving but it’s not cheap for people with law income.
Those foreigners even they build a small business but they are permitted with a certificate which is provided by the Timorese government. The question is, how much is the modal that they have to invest for their business in Timor-Leste? Have they fulfilled the criteria existed and do they have working visa? Do they pay to the tax? Maybe yes or maybe not. The immigration Office sometimes deportee those people with the reason of miss using visa in the country. A part of that modal & this uncertain condition, these foreigners still employ one or two Timorese and valuated with the number of dollars which is less than minimum wage of government standard.
Local people who work with these foreigners are categorized as minimum educated people and unemployed who are looking for job. The minimum wages from the foreigner employment has sustained their livelihood with this amount; even though, the present of these foreigners are really not welcomed by local people however the local people enjoy their supplies.
The “foreigner’s business intervention” excluded from the business that run based on an agreement which is reached by both government. Technical cooperation, grant provision and other type of assistance are surely come because of an agreement from both parties. So, this is an intervention run in diplomatic way. How is about the involvement that coming from private foreign company and business? Are they legally operating business in Timor-Leste? do they contribute to the development of this country? Is there any action to them from the government through the competent division? By employing local people for lower position, are they paid conditionally with the job by the foreigner company?
There are a lot of unclear situation of present by the foreigners business in Timor-Leste. The occupation of foreigners are not just in urban but have already disseminated in remotes areas with the same type of business. With limited amount, lack of creativity and knowledge local business mostly not able to compete and prefer to withdraw from the market because of the Chinese and some others foreign business.
The development in Timor-Leste is seemed gradually improved. However, the improvement is still around the urban areas. The remote areas are also essential to develop as whole as nation development. It is requested to the government to seriously regulate the foreign business and trade in order to create a space for local business. As business is one of the major parts for the contribution of a nation.
written by Octa Minec Carvalho
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