Au Kam San worried non-local workers have monopolized some jobs

Lawmaker Au Kam San says that the government’s policy of hiring non-local workers to fill gaps in the labor market has led to the monopolization of some job types by non-residents.

Au made the comments this afternoon during the policy address of Secretary for Economy and Finance Lei Wai Nong.

The veteran lawmaker said that the current arrangement had resulted in undesirable outcomes for the labor market and asked that the government look for ways to replace non-local workers with Macau residents.

In response to the enquiry, Lei said that non-resident labor is used to fill positions that local workers will not do themselves. He said that, because of the current economic situation, local workers may need to be more flexible and consider some work typically done by non-resident workers. For example, he said, work in restaurants and hotel and in the security sector.

Au’s comments come as the unemployment rate for local residents rose 0.3 percentage points to 2.9% in the first quarter of this year, and amid concerns that Macau’s small and large businesses are already resorting to layoffs to cope with the coronavirus pandemic.

Meanwhile, lawmaker Sulu Sou has asked whether the law permits employers to reduce the salaries of their staff. He too is concerned about growing reports of local workers being made redundant.

This afternoon, several lawmakers asked what the government will do to help newly-graduated students this year entering the workforce for the first time.

Secretary Lei admitted that new graduates might struggle to find work once they conclude their studies. He said he is in talks with large companies in the SAR to promote internships with a duration of three months so that the new workforce entrants can gain experience. Meanwhile, these companies can decide who they might want to hire once the economic climate improves.

Legislators Agnes Lam, Pereira Coutinho and Ella Lei are also calling for more concrete measures to help new graduates to find employment. The Secretary has not yet addressed their specific inquiries. DB/RM