Groups urge reforms on leave policies and employee benefits

Public consultation on adjusting maternity and annual leave in Macau has sparked calls from multiple sectors for stronger labor protections, including the introduction of mandatory holidays.

Local residents have also voiced strong support for extending maternity leave, showing growing societal demand for improved work-life balance.

The employer representative from the Standing Committee for the Co-ordination of Social Affairs stated that the proposal for government-provided maternity leave compensation subsidies underscores employees’ growing expectations for enhanced quality of life and working conditions.

He noted that employers must adapt to these advancements to meet employee expectations.

However, Vong Kok Seng, currently vice president of the Board of Directors of the Macao Chamber of Commerce, noted that achieving this goal requires the joint efforts of various industries, enterprises, and specific job positions. He urged all stakeholders to collaborate and offer constructive suggestions to effectively address the demands for these changes.

As the labor representative, Choi Kam Fu, director of the Rights Committee of the Macao Federation of Trade Unions (FAOM), advocated for a gradual increase in employee vacation days instead of abruptly raising them to excessively high levels. He reportedly stated that incrementally increasing vacation days from six to 12 annually allows for better adaptability in the labor market. According to him, this approach enables employers to absorb the associated costs over time while encouraging employees to strengthen their relationships with employers by remaining with the company longer. Choi emphasized that this strategy benefits both parties, fostering cooperation and stability in the workplace.

As the consultation period begins, labor sector legislators Lam Lon Wai and Leong Pou U have voiced their opinions in a joint statement, urging the government to fully consider public feedback and promptly initiate subsequent legislative work.

They advocate for extending maternity leave to 90 days, believing this would strengthen family-friendly policies by providing postpartum women with adequate time to recover physically and mentally, while ensuring that newborns receive comprehensive care.

Additionally, they propose introducing a seniority-based annual leave mechanism to enhance employees’ job stability and sense of belonging.

While acknowledging the government’s responsiveness to labor sector demands, the two legislators also urged the government to review the possibility of increasing mandatory holidays during the consultation period.

Separately, some stakeholders have expressed hopes that the government will review the effectiveness of these measures in the coming years, refine laws based on social realities, improve family planning policies, and promote family-friendly development.

Among them, legislator Chan Lai Kei suggested exploring the feasibility of extending paternity leave for men in this legislative amendment, as well as introducing accompanying leave for parents in dual-income families to care for elderly relatives and young children.