Singapore to open select sectors to Timor-Leste workers; step up healthcare, Asean cooperation

[DILI] Singapore will strengthen bilateral exchanges and economic ties with Timor-Leste, including exploring new investment opportunities and opening selected sectors and occupations to Timorese workers next year.

The Republic will also continue to support Timor-Leste’s integration into Asean. To help the bloc’s newest member contribute fully to the grouping and prepare for its chairmanship in 2029, Singapore will expand a programme to include workshops on Asean chairmanship duties for officials in Dili.

Prime Minister Lawrence Wong announced these key areas of cooperation on Friday (Jul 3) during his first official visit to Timor-Leste. The two-day trip, which wrapped up on Friday, also marked the first time a Singapore prime minister has visited the South-east Asian country, which gained independence in 2002.

Earlier in the day, PM Wong was conferred the Order of Timor-Leste (Grand Collar) – the nation’s highest honour at the presidential palace. He also witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on the establishment of a mechanism for bilateral consultations.

At a joint press conference with Timor-Leste Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao, PM Wong said these initiatives will take bilateral cooperation to the next level.

“Singapore and Timor-Leste may be small nations, but we share the same conviction: that our size does not determine our destiny, and that we can shape our own future through courage, hard work and strong partnerships.”

He added: “Timor-Leste’s accession to Asean marks the beginning of a new chapter – not just for your country, not just for Asean, but also for the partnership between Singapore and Timor-Leste.”

Timor-Leste officially joined Asean as its 11th member state in October 2025.

Gusmao said he welcomes investments from Singapore, including infrastructure building, healthcare services and the development of the blue economy.

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New opportunities for businesses, Timorese workers 

Singapore is one of the largest investors in Timor-Leste, said PM Wong, noting that the Republic’s businesses are exploring opportunities across a wide range of sectors from wholesale trade to renewable energy.

“These investments reflect growing interest and confidence in Timor-Leste’s future,” he said.

From the second half of 2027, employers in Singapore will be able to hire work-permit holders from Timor-Leste.

The half-island nation will be designated an approved non-traditional source country for such workers, joining the ranks of recently added Bhutan, Cambodia and Laos. They join other more established countries including Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, the Philippines, Sri Lanka and Thailand.

Timorese work-permit holders can be hired in the construction, marine and process sectors; as well as selected occupations in the manufacturing and services industries.

In response to queries from The Business Times, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Manpower said the government agency observed early interest from firms in Singapore to hire Timorese workers, such as in the construction sector. 

PM Wong described the move as a win-win initiative. While providing more opportunities for Timorese people to gain skills and work experience, it also helps to meet the manpower needs of Singapore in selected sectors. 

The Singapore leader said: “We believe this is a valuable partnership for both sides. But I would also look at it as not just an economic initiative, because the more we have these sorts of exchanges, interactions, it builds closer people-to-people ties, it builds closer business-to-business exchanges.”

Gusmao said remittances from Timorese working overseas amounted to more than US$180 million in 2025, making up around 10 per cent of the country’s gross domestic product.

Asean chairmanship support

Now that Timor-Leste has joined Asean, the next priority is for it to contribute fully to the bloc and prepare for its chairmanship in 2029, said PM Wong.

Singapore will boost its current support package with more Asean-related programmes, he said. The Enhanced Singapore-Timor-Leste Asean Readiness Support (eSTARS) Package took effect in July 2025 and runs until December 2028.

This includes tailored workshops for Timorese officials on the duties of an Asean chair as well as seminars on the bloc’s key issues and processes. They will also get the opportunity to attach to Singapore teams during the city-state’s Asean chairmanship term next year. 

Healthcare cooperation

Singapore’s National University Hospital and the Timorese Health Ministry intend to establish a cooperation framework in health workforce development, healthcare training systems, public health capability and health-systems strengthening in the young nation.

Projected to run from this month to July 2031, the collaboration may include training of trainers, faculty development and simulation-based education. It may also consist of public health capability-building in areas like epidemiology, surveillance and data capability.

Both countries will also cooperate in education, to support the young country’s National Institute for Training of Teachers and Education Professionals in developing school leaders.

Bilateral cooperation

On Friday, both countries also signed an MOU on the establishment of a mechanism for bilateral consultations.

The agreement was inked by Singapore Foreign Affairs Minister Vivian Balakrishnan and his Timorese counterpart Bendito dos Santos Freitas. The signing was witnessed by PMs Wong and Gusmao.

The deal sees both countries pledging to establish a framework to promote and strengthen bilateral cooperation.

Both sides will review and assess existing areas of collaboration, identify new areas of mutually beneficial cooperation and exchange views on regional and international issues on a regular basis.

Highest honour

Earlier in the day, President Jose Ramos-Horta conferred upon PM Wong the Order of Timor-Leste (Grand Collar), in recognition of Singapore’s contributions to the young country’s national development and support for its Asean membership.

The award – Timor-Leste’s highest honour – also recognises PM Wong’s personal commitment to Singapore’s capacity-building packages for its South-east Asian neighbour.

In his acceptance remarks at the conferment ceremony, PM Wong said: “Singapore has been privileged to walk alongside Timor-Leste on different stages of your nation-building journey.”

He added: “Our partnership has been one of mutual learning and mutual respect.”