Al plenary | Lawmakers slam government over maids’ qualifications

Foreign domestic helpers’ lack of professional qualifications is troublesome according to several Legislative Assembly lawmakers, who raised further criticism over the performance of employment agencies in yesterday’s plenary meeting.
Two spoken enquiries by lawmakers Mak Soi Kun and Lei Cheng I triggered further debate, as several legislators urged the government to better supervise the work of employment agencies, through which domestic helpers are often hired.
The Secretary for Economy and Finance, Lionel Leong, pledged to soon discuss professional training opportunities for domestic helpers with government representatives from their home countries.
In his enquiry, lawmaker Mak Soi Kun recalled that until March this year there were 22,112 domestic helpers in Macau, 106 of which come from mainland China, with the majority from the Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam and Myanmar. The quality of their work, he said, varies and that has an impact on residents’ lives.
He recalled that only the 106 domestic helpers from China hold professional qualifications. Therefore, he raised doubts over the qualifications of the remaining domestic helpers, which make up the majority.
“These domestic helpers have to go through an employment agency. Some of them only speak a few words of Cantonese and do not know how to cook. Many of our elders can only eat traditional Chinese food,” he stressed.
Wong Kit Cheng also reiterated that the government is not doing enough for over 22,000 domestic helpers currently working here.
“Adding to the fact that they do not hold any professional qualifications, there’s also the health issue. They come to Macau with health problems and employment agencies then say that this is the employer’s responsibility,” she recalled.
“There’s not enough protection for these domestic helpers or for their employers,” Wong added. Likewise Zheng Anting also called for further measures protecting both employee and employer. “Domestic helpers from other nationalities can simply jump on a place and start working for a Macau family. There’s no information on their background and on any problems they’ve experienced back home,” he warned.
Mr Zheng added asked the government if a scheme could be put in place to protect local families. On the other hand, he also called for measures to protect domestic helpers in case of abuse.
Other legislators questioned whether the local government is failing to better supervise domestic helpers’ work. Kwan Tsui Hang queried: “Why do so many employers have problems with domestic helpers? The government does not supervise (…) the government could introduce more supervising mechanisms; it cannot allow domestic helpers to come to Macau without knowing about their health conditions or their criminal record.”
“It’s very irresponsible to continue [hiring domestic helpers] using current procedures,” she added.
The secretary recalled that the authorities are reviewing legislation on employment agencies and the law regulating the recruitment of foreign workers. He said that law revision will allow employers to have more information on their domestic helpers prior to hiring them.
Furthermore, he acknowledged that domestic helpers will have to meet further requirements, including holding a certificate as proof that they have undergone training.
The director of the Labor Affairs Bureau (DSAL), Wong Chi Hong, acknowledged that domestic helpers coming to Macau should already hold professional training.
He added that upon revising current legislation employment agencies would also be under closer control. “We have listed all prohibited acts regarding employment agencies, such as keeping domestic helpers’ documents or charging further fees. In case they breach the law, we might force the agency to close down or take away their license to operate,” he stated.
The DSAL director did not provide any calendar for the introduction of amendments to the law regulating employment agencies and the law governing the recruitment of foreign workers.
A spoken enquiry by Lei Cheng I during yesterday’s Legislative Assembly session also raised concerns over discrepancies between salaries offered to locals and foreign workers. She claimed that employers, particularly within the construction sector, see an advantage in hiring non-locals as they accept lower wages.
The lawmaker recalled that equal pay between residents and foreign employees is a principle stipulated in Macau’s law.
The Secretary for Economy and Finance, Lionel Leong, reiterated that the government complies with the law, adding that the Human Resources Office continues to assess whether companies have been complying with the minimum wage stipulated for construction workers.