Briefs | Market already protects helper salary, says DSAL

Deputy Director of the Labour Affairs Bureau (DSAL) Ng Wai Han has said that the Macau market has basic protection for domestic helpers’ wages. Yesterday, Ng said that the city’s minimum wage bill, which is currently under detailed discussion and does not apply to domestic helpers, does not mean that domestic helpers do not have any salary protection. Ng further noted that the local government has never ruled out the possibility of establishing a trade union law. She also said that the Standing Committee for the Coordination of Social Affairs has already entrusted an independent third party with the study of the conditions Macau should have in order to launch a discussion of the trade union law. The research report has been received by the government and it is arranging discussions within the employers’ sector, the employees’ sector and its departments.

Macau students lagging in science and technology

The President of the Macau Science and Technology Education Association, Mac Pui Veng, has said that Macau students are lagging behind in terms of knowledge about science and technology in comparison to mainland and Taiwan students. Mac said that despite Macau students being talented at science and technology, Macau lacks science teachers. “There are not enough science teachers,” said Mac. “Our association has an idea to train some teachers in a first stage, but it needs the government to provide financial support and location support.” Mac led 15 teams consisting of 40 Macau students who participated in the Asia Intelligent Robot Contest, which took place earlier this week in Macau.

Forex reserves amount to 167 billion patacas

The preliminary estimate of Macau’s foreign exchange reserves amounted to MOP167 billion at the end of July, a slight increase of 0.3% from the revised value of MOP166.4 billion the previous month. According to data issued by the Monetary Authority of Macao, the SAR’s foreign exchange reserves at end-July represented 10 times the currency in circulation. The trade-weighted effective exchange rate index for the pataca rose 0.16 points month-to-month and 2.1 points year-on-year to 106.9 in July, implying that, overall, the exchange rate of the pataca grew against the currencies of the region’s major trading partners.