DSAL confirms dozens of Filipino workers involved in labor disputes

The Labour Affairs Bureau (DSAL) confirmed it handled 659 labor dispute cases from January to June 2025, with 57 involving Filipino migrant workers. Most complaints from Filipino workers so far this year concerned “unpaid wages, overtime compensation, and mandatory holidays,” the bureau said in a written reply to the Times.

DSAL also stated that no cases related to unlicensed job agencies were reported during this same period.

The Times’ inquiry follows a recent scandal in which over 50 Filipino jobseekers were allegedly lured into paying between MOP20,000 and MOP24,000 each for jobs at a Japanese restaurant, only to find themselves without proper work permits or wages.

The Progressive Labor Union of Domestic Workers – Macau (PLU) sought help from the Philippine Consulate and local authorities to support the victims.

PLU chair Jassy Santos previously explained to local media that victims, desperate for steady work, borrowed money for placement fees but were left without pay.

Complaints from jobseekers covered both missing wages and refunded agency fees. Some reported being dismissed or having visas cancelled without notice, leaving them liable for overstay fines and forced to leave Macau.

DSAL said it is investigating suspected fraud involving this recent job scam. “If any illegal activity is confirmed, offenders will be punished according to the law,” the bureau stated to the Times.

Data from the Statistics and Census Service shows that the current average salary for domestic workers in Macau is MOP5,000 per month.

Lawmakers also have previously raised concerns over foreign worker protection, illegal employment practices, and the regulation of recruitment agencies in Macau.

At a recent Legislative Assembly session, lawmaker Nick Lei highlighted an incident at a concert where authorities discovered a significant number of illegal workers.

He urged the government to take decisive action to prevent similar abuses and strengthen enforcement.
Lei also pressed the government to speed up several development plans that have been announced but not yet launched.

He argued that rapid implementation of these projects is vital to address unemployment, especially among construction workers, and help stabilize the local job market.