FAOM lawmakers call for clarity on support measures and salary claim mechanism

Ella Lei

Several lawmakers linked to the Macau Federation of Trade Unions (FAOM) have delivered spoken inquiries to the government at the Legislative Assembly (AL) yesterday, calling on the government to give clarity on the support measures to be established as well as a mechanism to facilitate claims of unpaid salaries by workers.

During the period before the agenda of AL’s plenary session, lawmaker Lei Chan U opened the session by calling on the government to clarify how and when the MOP10 billion of “general support measures” to the whole population will be carried out.

The lawmaker accused the government of presenting such a relief measure but then excusing themselves of developing the topic and presenting details on how the measure will be enforced and reach the people, as well as when it may happen.

For Lei, such behavior on part of the government allows the creation of rumors and speculation in society.

Lei Chan U

“I hope that the government will create and improve the mechanisms for the interpretation of policies as well as for the consideration and evaluation of public opinion, so, when disclosing policies and measures, it can provide more detailed information to society to satisfy the right to information of the population and allow its awareness and debate, avoiding the emergence of social confusion due to asymmetric information,” Lei said, adding, “The Chief Executive stated that the universal [for all residents] benefit measures will only be available by November or December. I hope that, during this period, the government will continue to listen to society’s opinions, improve the measures articulating them with the economic recovery plan, and safeguard the livelihood and the employment of the population.”

In a separate inquiry, also delivered during the period before the agenda, Ella Lei noted that there is still a long way to go until workers can see their rights protected and guaranteed, namely regarding their wages.

Citing data from the Labour Affairs Bureau (DSAL), Ella Lei noted that, last year, there were a total of 1,758 labor-related conflicts solved by the DSAL, in which some 66% pertained to outstanding wages and dismissal, involving more than 2000 people.

The lawmaker said that even though the labor sector has on several occasions called for the amendment and creation of new laws to protect workers’ rights, this has not yet happened, “a fact that creates great difficulties [for] effectively [resolving] outstanding wages. A problem that the government continues to ignore and so [it] has not taken any step towards the review and improvement of these the laws,” she concluded.