Small group of IACM employees to be transferred to ID

ID’s president José Tavares

A small group of employees working under the Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau (IACM) will be transferred to the Sports Development Board, as part of IACM’s restructuring process. The decision to restructure IACM was announced in last year’s Policy Address, delivered by Chief Executive Chui Sai On.
In November last year, the Secretary for Administration and Justice revealed that approximately 300 employees currently working within IACM’s different service providers would be transferred to the Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC) and the Sports Development Board (ID).
ID’s president, Mr José Tavares, told the Times that his department is still considering its options for restructuring, but added that out of those 300 employees “a small group will be reassigned to the ID to oversee management and maintenance work for sporting facilities, sports and recreational activities.”
As of January 2015, the Sports Development Board will be officially in charge of four public swimming pools, as well as overseeing outdoor sporting fields, and sports and recreational activities which are currently managed under IACM’s operation.
Mr José Tavares did not disclose the exact number of employees to be reassigned, and emphasized that they are still examining their options.
Last year, a task group was formed to handle IACM’s restructure, aiming to study not only the reassignment of employees, but also the transfer of IACM’s sports-related tasks and duties to the ID. A similar handover was envisioned for the Cultural Affairs Bureau, which will take on the management of cultural activities, and tasks currently performed by IACM.
The Cultural Affairs Bureau will manage a number of cultural facilities currently under IACM’s supervision, the department told the Times in an email. “We have had meetings with various departments so that we can coordinate tasks, by exchanging ideas and communicating,” the IC said.
Still examining the ways in which the management of these cultural facilities will be distributed, the Cultural Affairs Bureau revealed that it hopes to complete restructuring procedures within the year.
“We believe that transferring obligations will contribute to the future development of cultural industries in Macau,” the IC concluded.
Lawmaker Leong Veng Chai recently posed an enquiry to government with regards to IACM’s restructuring, urging Macau’s administration to provide an update on the process. Through a written enquiry, the legislator stressed that IACM’s tasks overlap not only with those performed by the Sports Development Board and the Cultural Affairs Bureau, but also coincide with services provided by the Land, Public Works and Transport Bureau (DSSOPT), and the Environmental Protection Bureau (DSPA).
The legislator stressed that Macau faces issues related to an overlap in the provision of services and in public departments’ duties, which can be confusing for citizens.

Catarina Pinto