Chui meets with associations to fine-tune policies

Meeting between the CE and the Macau Civil Servants Association

In preparation for the 2017 policy address, the Chief Executive (CE) Chui Sai On has met with representatives of associations and people from all walks of life in Macau in order to hear their views on key topics.
During meetings with the Federation of Trade Unions (FAOM) and the General Union of the Neighborhood Associations (UGAMM), Chui vowed not to decrease social welfare measures. According to the associations, Chui also said that he will continue the cash handout policy, although he didn’t disclose if the value of the annual cheque would remain unchanged. An increase in available public housing and measures to ensure steady employment of residents are two other topics to be highlighted in next month’s policy address presentation.
During yesterday’s meeting between the CE and the Macau Civil Servants Association (ATFPM), the association’s president Pereira Coutinho argued that the value of the cash handout for permanent residents should be raised to MOP12,000 due to the increasing cost of living.
Coutinho also raised several concerns of local civil servants, like demands for a 6 percent salary increase, and improvements in the residence subsidy and retirement schemes. The lawmaker noted to Chui that 17 years after the establishment of the MSAR, the Trade Union Law was not implemented. “There are many cases related to labor issues in the courts, which demonstrates that the Labor Affairs Bureau is not the appropriate service to mediate issues related to labor rights. Employers and employees should be on the same level,” he said, in an interview conducted by TDM.