MAY DAY 2001: Timor Lorosa'e

By Selma W. Hayati, NGO Forum Timor Lorosa’e

Not to be left behind by working friends and supporters in the rest of the world, hundreds of workers in unions, Labour Party members, NGO activists, street vendors, child labourers, street children, and journalists transformed the city centre of Dili [capital of Timor Lorosa’e] on the First of May.

This historic day is the second time workers in Timor Lorosa’e celebrated International Workers’ Day and freedom from Indonesia since independence was declared in 1999. The main streets of Dili were filled with posters, banners, and slogans, reflecting the hopes, wishes, and demands of our workers.

Pro-workers took the opportunity of May Day to remind the transitional government under United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET) to pay attention to bad working conditions and create worker friendly politics to protect the workforce.

Representatives from International Labour Organisation, the regional sector of the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU-APRO), and the Australian Council of Trade Unions participated in the long march, providing solidarity and support.

There are a number of differences in the complementary demands from different bodies. The Labour Advocacy Institute for East Timor (LAIFET) is supported by the East Timor NGO Forum, the Sahe Institute for Liberation, the HAK (Human Rights) Foundation, Lao Hamutuk, and the alternative press like TALITAKUM, Lalenok, Lian Maubere, and the Confederation of Workers’ Unions Timor Lorosa’e.

The Trabalhista Party and the Workers’ Organisation of the Timor Socialist Party held separate events. The demands of the NGOs and the Confederation of Workers’ Unions of Timor Lorosa’e were expressed in posters, banners, and handbills which were distributed to ordinary people on the streets as part of an educational promotion about workers rights. For example demands included no discrimination in recruitment, a national labour day holiday on 1 May, safety and security in the workplace, equality of wages for all workers, and respect for workers’ rights as human rights.

It was particularly ironic that fellow workers at UNTAET were not able to join in the action because UNTAET does not celebrate 1 May as a national holiday.

It was obvious that those in the Trabalhista Party and the Workers Organisation of the Timor Socialist Party which are both affiliated with the Socialist Party of Timor used the occasion to publicise the General Election, to be held in August.

They made 10 demands - amongst them a 42-hour working week, and laws on investment.

Interestingly, NGOs and the Workers Union which have no affiliation to any political party ended the long march with people’s entertainment at the Fransisco Borja Mini Park ­-named after a young hero Fransisco Borja, who died in the Indonesian military invasion of 1975.

A number of activists sang songs and read poetry about the war and struggle, and also about the street children who grow up fast in the centre of Dili. Unfortunately at present most workers here do not understand the meaning of 1st of May, or their rights as workers. Organising and creating awareness among the working class is still very weak in comparison to the growth of foreign capitalism.

Such inequality provides capital with the perfect opportunity oppress the working class. Thus, supportive information, solidarity, and knowledge are essential for those from international worker organisations to build a better working life in Timor Lorosa’e.

Viva Trabalhista Timor Lorosa’e.