On 3 August 2026 in Seoul, His Excellency António de Sá Benevides, Ambassador of Timor-Leste to the Republic of Korea, received His Excellency Rogério Araújo Mendonça, L.Ed, Secretary of State for Vocational Training and Employment, together with members of the National Parliament from Committee D, led by His Excellency Ricardo Baptista, on the occasion of an official working visit to Korea.
During the working visit, the Ambassador extended a formal welcome to the members of the National Parliament represented through Committee D, which oversees matters of Economy and Development, as well as to the Secretary of State for Vocational Training and Employment and the accompanying delegation carrying out the visit.
The Chairman of Committee D further stated that the purpose of the working visit was to gain a closer, first-hand understanding of the realities faced by Timorese workers in the Republic of Korea.
“We are grateful for such a warm welcome. Our purpose in undertaking this working visit is to draw comparisons across countries and to observe directly the work being done here, which matters greatly to our workers. We remain in constant communication with SEFOPE, and through this visit we wished to come closer to our fellow Timorese working in this country. We have gone to the field itself to see for ourselves the realities they face.” Deputy Ricardo Baptista, Chairman of Committee D
The remarks were shared during a meeting held at the Embassy of Timor-Leste in Seoul, where the delegation outlined the scope and objectives of the visit to Embassy staff and accompanying officials.
Observing Conditions on the Ground
The Secretary of State for Vocational Training and Employment noted that the presence of members of the National Parliament through Committee D was of considerable importance, allowing for direct observation of the conditions faced by Timorese workers in the country.
“This working visit is of great value, as it allows us to see directly the treatment our workers encounter, particularly in the fisheries, manufacturing and agricultural sectors — and above all in fisheries — as well as how employers treat our fellow Timorese workers.” Secretary of State Rogério Araújo Mendonça, L.Ed
The visit forms part of the Embassy’s continued commitment to supporting the welfare of Timorese workers abroad, and reflects the ongoing coordination between the National Parliament, SEFOPE, and the diplomatic mission in Seoul in monitoring and improving working conditions across sectors that employ significant numbers of Timorese nationals in the Republic of Korea.