FAOM urges tackling illegal employment

Representatives from the Macau Federation of Trade Unions (FAOM) met with Chief Executive Chui Sai On yesterday and provided him with 10 opinions and suggestions regarding government policies, in the lead up to the CE’s preparation for the Policy Address next month. After the meeting, FAOM president Chiang Chong Sek told the media that one of the issues that most concerned the federation was the import of non-resident workers (TNRs) and the lack of proper mechanisms to monitor the regulation of TNRs.
“There is a lack of transparency in the current policy of TNRs’ importation. The current situation [of TNRs’ importation] is also different from the initial objective of the policy, which was to substitute for the manpower shortage in the local work force,” he said.
Mr Chiang said that the number of TNRs approved to work in Macau has reached 200,000. However, there are only around 170,000 TNRs who really work in Macau. “From what we have heard from the local workers, some construction sites have suspended their operations due to various reasons. But why are [these sites] still allocated so much TNR quota and where are those TNRs’ current workplaces?” He asked. The president has called for this issue to be tackled legally and have the cases referred to the DSAL.
Moreover, the president pointed out to the CE the high inflation rate in recent years, which has far exceeded the growth of salaries. He also asked the government to tackle various issues including housing, healthcare, transportation, education and the age pension system.

policy address to take place on mar 23

The CE will deliver his 2015 Policy Address at the Legislative Assembly (AL) on March 23 and will answer questions from the lawmakers in another AL session the day after, according to TDM. The five government secretaries will also attend various AL sessions on March 26, 30 and 31, as well as April 9, 13, 14, 16 and 17 to debate policies with the lawmakers.The 2015 Policy Address was postponed last November to this March, after the re-election of Chui Sai On. In his Policy Address in November 2014, he reviewed his works and achievements during his first five-year term.