IACM pledges to assist employers in the poultry trade

The Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau (IACM), after meeting representatives of the poultry trade about a “withdrawal assistance plan”, met with employees of the sector on Friday afternoon. Another meeting is scheduled for today.

IACM said in a statement that the meeting was focused on the kinds of support available from the government. These include measures such as counseling services for career changes and  redundancy compensation for employees.

IACM said around 120 employees of the poultry trade attended the meeting.

The live poultry market was banned in Macau following three avian influenza scares earlier this year. An IACM representative said earlier this month that the ban was “due to the consideration of public hygiene and the actual needs of epidemic prevention.”

Next month, a total of MOP6.2 million in compensation will be granted to operators and practitioners who were suspended from work due to the avian influenza outbreaks. Included in this amount is a daily subsidy for the suspension of business, which comes to MOP200 per person.

According to the “Labor Relations Law”, if an employer makes an employee redundant, compensation must be paid to the employee – with the government’s assistance if needed. IACM estimates that if all employees are made redundant, the amount involved will exceed MOP14 million.

The bureau said it will maintain communication with those affected by the ban and “will seriously consider and analyze their other requests, offering assistance in accordance with the law.”