Country Hiring Guide

Discover & Hire Top Talents in Timor-Leste

Everything you need to know about the country's employment laws, culture, and workforce insights.

Capital

Dili UTC+9

Economic Hubs

Dili

Currency

US Dollar (USD)

Languages

Tetum, Portuguese, Indonesian, English

Payroll

monthly

Employer Tax

6.00%

Workforce Insights

Talent Landscape in Timor-Leste

Timor Leste has an estimated labor force of about 635,000 (2025), with talent demand concentrated in public administration, oil and gas, construction, agriculture and development services. International employers are most likely to find relevant candidate pools for Project Management, Civil Engineering, and Accounting & Finance. The market is compact, so targeted hiring and regional talent mobility are important for scarce specialist roles.

Major Economic Hubs

Dili

Skills In-Demand

Project Management

Working Culture

Community Trust and Personal Credibility

In Timor Leste, professional relationships often grow through personal introductions and community reputation. Time spent building trust can be important before formal processes gain traction.

Respect for Senior and Institutional Authority

Age, office and social standing can shape who speaks and decides. Leaders should invite junior staff to contribute without requiring them to challenge a senior person publicly.

Small Market Collaboration and Local Inclusion

Timor Leste has a relatively small professional community where reputation, personal credibility and community awareness matter. Managers should communicate decisions clearly, involve local employees early and avoid relying only on imported practices.

Average Salary

Job Title	Avg Monthly Salary (USD)
Accounting & Finance
Administrative Executive, Junior (1-3 years)	465 USD	S$632
Administrative Executive, Mid (3-5 years)	620 USD	S$843
Book Keeper, Junior (1-3 years)	415 USD	S$564
Book Keeper, Mid (3-5 years)	565 USD	S$768
Finance Executive, Junior (1-3 years)	535 USD	S$728
Finance Executive, Mid (3-5 years)	700 USD	S$952
Creatives
Graphic Designer, Junior (1-3 years)	535 USD	S$728
Graphic Designer, Mid (3-5 years)	775 USD	S$1,054
UI/UX Designer, Junior (1-3 years)	565 USD	S$768
UI/UX Designer, Mid (3-5 years)	980 USD	S$1,333
Data Analytics
Data Analyst, Junior (1-3 years)	775 USD	S$1,054
Data Analyst, Mid (3-5 years)	1,010 USD	S$1,374
Data Engineering
Data Engineer, Junior (1-3 years)	775 USD	S$1,054
Data Engineer, Mid (3-5 years)	1,250 USD	S$1,700
AI & Machine Learning
Data Scientist, Junior (1-3 years)	775 USD	S$1,054
Data Scientist, Mid (3-5 years)	1,040 USD	S$1,414
Machine Learning Engineer, Junior (1-3 years)	655 USD	S$891
Machine Learning Engineer, Mid (3-5 years)	980 USD	S$1,333
Digital Marketing
Content Marketing, Junior (1-3 years)	625 USD	S$850
Content Marketing, Mid (3-5 years)	920 USD	S$1,251
Digital Marketing, Junior (1-3 years)	625 USD	S$850
Digital Marketing, Mid (3-5 years)	920 USD	S$1,251
Growth Marketing, Junior (1-3 years)	655 USD	S$891
Growth Marketing, Mid (3-5 years)	980 USD	S$1,333
Software Development
Backend Developer, Junior (1-3 years)	805 USD	S$1,095
Backend Developer, Mid (3-5 years)	1,190 USD	S$1,618

Job Title	Avg Monthly Salary (USD)
DevOps
DevOps Engineer, Junior (1-3 years)	775 USD	S$1,054
DevOps Engineer, Mid (3-5 years)	1,040 USD	S$1,414
Site Reliability Engineer, Junior (1-3 years)	775 USD	S$1,054
Site Reliability Engineer, Mid (3-5 years)	1,100 USD	S$1,496
Customer Support
Customer Service Officer, Junior (1-3 years)	385 USD	S$524
Customer Service Officer, Mid (3-5 years)	505 USD	S$687
Customer Experience
Customer Success Manager, Junior (1-3 years)	565 USD	S$768
Customer Success Manager, Mid (3-5 years)	805 USD	S$1,095
HR Operations
HR Executive, Junior (1-3 years)	505 USD	S$687
HR Executive, Mid (3-5 years)	685 USD	S$932
FinTech
Blockchain Developer, Junior (1-3 years)	625 USD	S$850
Blockchain Developer, Mid (3-5 years)	920 USD	S$1,251
Payments Engineer, Junior (1-3 years)	625 USD	S$850
Payments Engineer, Mid (3-5 years)	835 USD	S$1,136
Cloud Computing
Cloud Engineer, Junior (1-3 years)	715 USD	S$972
Cloud Engineer, Mid (3-5 years)	1,040 USD	S$1,414

Hiring Guide

Hiring Guide in Timor-Leste

This guide highlights the fundamental rules employers must know to hire compliantly, covering pay structures, leave policies, termination procedures, and compliance requirements.

For details, browse the topics through the tabs below.

Payroll in Timor-Leste

Payroll Cycle

Salary is generally paid monthly on the contractual pay date.

Minimum Wage

A statutory national monthly minimum wage applies.

Overtime Pay

- Generally 8 hours per day and 44 hours per week. - Overtime must remain within statutory daily and weekly limits.

- Timor-Leste: Overtime Pay = Ordinary Hourly Rate × 1.5 × Overtime Hours. - Apply any separate night, rest-day or public-holiday premium stated in the overtime rates column.

Bonus

13th Month

Timor Leste does not impose a general statutory 13th month salary on private sector employers. Private sector employees therefore have no automatic entitlement to an additional annual salary unless a binding employment contract, collective agreement, wage order, employer rule, or special sector law provides one.

No statutory private sector calculation applies. Where a binding instrument grants an annual bonus or 13th salary, the amount must be calculated under that instrument; there is no legal default that it equals 1 month of salary.

No private sector employee in Timor Leste qualifies automatically under the general labour law. Eligibility is limited to employees expressly covered by the applicable contract, collective agreement, wage order, employer rule, or special sector provision. The general law does not prescribe a universal minimum service period, prorating method, payment deadline, or entitlement after resignation or dismissal for a 13th salary. Those points must be determined from the specific binding instrument. Statutory leave pay, severance, end of service benefits, profit sharing, and public sector payments are separate benefits and should not be recorded as private sector 13th month salary unless the local rule expressly treats them that way.

Employees Benefits

Types of Benefit	Details
Mandatory
Social Security contribution obligations under Timor-Leste’s contributory regime	Social Security contribution obligations under Timor-Leste’s contributory regime is the principal mandatory benefit framework for eligible staff in Timor Leste. The employer is responsible for onboarding the worker with the administering institution, calculating contributions on the legally defined wage base and remitting both shares where employee withholding applies. Exemptions for expatriates, short assignments or specific sectors should be confirmed before payroll starts.
Work injury protection under Social Security contribution obligations under Timor-Leste’s contributory regime	Work related accidents in Timor Leste are handled under the statutory injury provisions associated with Social Security contribution obligations under Timor-Leste’s contributory regime. Employers remain responsible for registration, contribution or insurance costs and timely incident reporting. Eligible workers can receive medical care and cash compensation for incapacity, disability or death according to the local schedule.
Statutory termination or end of service entitlement in Timor Leste	Before ending employment in Timor Leste, the employer should determine whether the case is redundancy, misconduct, incapacity, contract expiry or ordinary dismissal. That classification controls the required procedure and whether a severance or service indemnity is payable in addition to notice, wages and unused leave.
Public healthcare or mandatory medical coverage in Timor Leste	Health protection in Timor Leste is delivered through the medical or sickness branch of Social Security contribution obligations under Timor-Leste’s contributory regime. Employers must register employees who meet the scheme’s coverage tests and remit the required payroll contribution on the prescribed wage base. The programme commonly provides medical treatment and cash sickness or maternity benefits, while eligibility for dependants, expatriates and higher earners follows the local institution’s rules.
Optional
Supplementary private medical insurance in Timor Leste	Private medical insurance in Timor Leste should be designed around the gaps left by Social Security contribution obligations under Timor-Leste’s contributory regime. Employers commonly add faster outpatient access, private hospital treatment, dental, optical, mental health and dependant cover. The policy remains optional unless a visa, emirate, collective agreement or sector rule makes insurance compulsory, and any taxable benefit treatment should be processed through payroll.
Performance or profit sharing bonus in Timor Leste	A performance or profit sharing bonus in Timor Leste is optional unless promised by contract, collective agreement or an established plan. The rules should specify the performance period, measurable targets, proration for joiners and leavers, and treatment during protected leave. Payroll must apply local income tax and social contribution rules to the payment.
Meal, commuting and business travel support in Timor Leste	Meal, commuting and business travel support in Timor Leste should be split between fixed cash allowances and reimbursements supported by receipts. That distinction determines whether the amount is taxable salary, exempt expense repayment or part of the contribution wage. The policy should state limits, eligible journeys and the treatment of remote work.
Housing, relocation and remote work support in Timor Leste	Housing, relocation and remote work support in Timor Leste is normally contractual rather than statutory. The policy should identify covered costs, taxable benefit treatment, repayment conditions for early departure and whether the support is temporary or continues throughout the assignment.

Taxes

Country Tax

Timor-Leste's country tax is known as Sales tax 2.5% on imported goods; 0% on other goods

Individual Tax

Tax Component	Contribution Rate (%)	Details
Income Tax Structure
Resident Tax Rates	0% to 10%	Timor Leste applies 0% to 10% to taxable employment income. The employee’s final liability depends on taxable pay, permitted deductions or credits, and any local surtaxes stated in the cited source.
Non-Resident Employment Income	10% flat rate	Nonresident Timor Leste sourced taxable income is subject to a flat 10% rate.
Taxable Income Adjustments
Main Deductions and Allowances	Country specific	Country specific deductions, allowances and employee contribution rules may reduce taxable income. The applicable items, eligibility conditions and caps must be confirmed against the cited local source for the relevant tax year.
Taxable & Exempt Components
Bonuses and Cash Allowances	Generally taxable at marginal employment rate	In Timor Leste, cash salary, commissions, performance bonuses, and recurring cash allowances are generally taxable employment income and subject to payroll withholding at the applicable marginal rate unless a specific statutory exemption applies.
Benefits in Kind	Taxable value at marginal rate where applicable	In Timor Leste, employer provided housing, vehicles, meals, insurance, equity, and other noncash benefits may be taxable under local valuation rules. Business reimbursements and de minimis exemptions require local support.

More Countries

Explore hiring in other countries

Indonesia

CapitalJakarta

Employers Tax10.24% – 11.74%

Employers Tax13.95% – 14.95%

Employers Tax7.75% – 17.25%

Australia

CapitalCanberra

Employers Tax12.00% + variable

Bahrain

CapitalManama

Employers Tax7.20% – 18.00%

Bangladesh

CapitalDhaka

Employers TaxVariable

Brunei

CapitalBandar Seri Begawan

Employers Tax8.50% – 10.50% or BND 57.50

Employers Tax5.00% + variable

India

CapitalNew Delhi

Employers Tax15.75% + variable

Israel

CapitalJerusalem

Employers Tax17.01% – 20.10%

Japan

CapitalTokyo

Employers Tax16.46% – 25.21%

Employers Tax17.50% – 22.50%

Kuwait

CapitalKuwait City

Employers Tax0.00% – 11.50%

Employers Tax12.50% – 14.50%

Nepal

CapitalKathmandu

Employers Tax20.00% or scheme specific

New Zealand

CapitalWellington

Employers Tax3.50% + variable

Employers Tax11.00% + variable

Employers Tax0.00% – 14.00%

Employers Tax10.53% – 29.12%

Sri Lanka

CapitalSri Jayawardenepura Kotte

Employers Tax15.00%

Thailand

CapitalBangkok

Employers Tax5.20% – 6.00%

Uzbekistan

CapitalTashkent

Employers Tax12.00% – 25.00%

Employers Tax16.40% – 19.40%

Botswana

CapitalGaborone

Employers TaxVariable

Employers Tax13.95% – 17.20%

Chad

CapitalN'Djamena

Employers Tax16.50%

Democratic Republic of the Congo

CapitalKinshasa

Employers Tax14.20% – 16.20%

Employers Tax5.00% + variable

Ivory Coast (Côte d’Ivoire)

CapitalYamoussoukro

Employers Tax15.45% – 18.45%

Kenya

CapitalNairobi

Employers Tax7.50% + variable

Lesotho

CapitalMaseru

Employers Tax1.00% + variable

Employers Tax10.00% + variable

Mali

CapitalBamako

Employers Tax17.90% – 20.90%

Employers Tax0.90% + variable

Employers Tax19.40% – 23.40%

Employers Tax2.00% + variable

Employers TaxAt least 22.50%

Employers Tax6.50% + variable

Zimbabwe

CapitalHarare

Employers Tax5.50% + variable

Employers Tax25.00% + variable

Bosnia and Herzegovina

CapitalSarajevo

Employers Tax0.00% – 6.00%

Bulgaria

CapitalSofia

Employers Tax18.92% – 19.62%

Employers Tax15.40% + variable

Employers TaxFixed amounts + variable

Employers Tax19.32% – 20.24% + variable

France

CapitalParis

Employers Tax25.00% – 45.00%

Employers Tax21.20% + variable

Employers TaxAt least 17.95%

Ireland

CapitalDublin

Employers Tax9.00% – 11.25%

Employers Tax7.20% + variable

Employers TaxAt least 12.57%

Employers TaxAt least 6.10% + variable

Employers Tax2.00% – 16.10% + variable

Poland

CapitalWarsaw

Employers Tax20.98% – 23.64%

Employers Tax2.25% – 10.25%

Employers Tax30.65% + variable

Employers Tax7.40% – 9.90% + variable

Ukraine

CapitalKyiv

Employers Tax8.41% – 22.00%

United Kingdom

CapitalLondon

Employers Tax18.00% – 18.50% + 15.00% on taxable benefits

Argentina

CapitalBuenos Aires

Employers Tax24.00% – 26.40% + variable

Employers Tax31.70% – 39.30%

Canada

CapitalOttawa

Employers Tax8.12% – 12.23% + variable

Chile

CapitalSantiago

Employers Tax5.87% – 6.47% + variable

Colombia

CapitalBogotá

Employers Tax30.02% – 36.46%

Costa Rica

CapitalSan José

Employers Tax26.83% + variable

Employers Tax11.15% + variable

CapitalGuatemala City

Employers Tax17.25% – 43.48% + 20.40% of UMA

Nicaragua

CapitalManagua

Employers Tax23.50% – 24.50%

Panama

CapitalPanama City

Employers Tax14.31% – 19.42%

Employers Tax9.75% + variable

Suriname

CapitalParamaribo

Employers Tax15.15% + variable

Trinidad and Tobago

CapitalPort of Spain

Employers TaxApproximately 8.80% + variable

United States

CapitalWashington, D.C.

Employers Tax8.25% + variable

Uruguay

CapitalMontevideo

Employers Tax12.60% + variable

Saudi Arabia

CapitalRiyadh

Employers Tax2.00% – 12.25%

United Arab Emirates

CapitalAbu Dhabi

Employers Tax0.00% – 15.00% + variable GCC rate

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