The subsidy is put forward to help households as businesses slow during the pandemic, a government statement said.

Workers seeking to access the subsidy must have lodged working documents by March 31 with the Register Book (Uma Kain).

As part of the subsidy, companies will not be able to fire their employees during the state of emergency period.

Payment will be made from the month following the approval of the decree and its costs will be financed by the COVID-19 Fund.

Timor-Leste confirmed COVID-19 cases remained at 24 on Monday, with 6 recoveries, health authorities said.

Some 448 people are in quarantine across the country and a suspected 480 people await tests results.