THE SOLE CANDIDATE ON the CAMPAIGN trail | Chui prioritizes local products, supports paid paternity leave

Chui Sai On held talks with business and women’s groups yesterday as part of his campaign for re-election. The sole candidate in the upcoming Chief Executive election has said that, if he is re-elected on August 31, the MSAR government will set up a dedicated task group to encourage the procurement of local products by public departments and casino resorts. He also expressed his support for paid parental leave for fathers.
Chui Sai On spent yesterday morning meeting with members of a number of industry groups. Representatives of these organizations raised various issues during their meetings with Mr Chui, ranging from the government’s policy on procuring local products to allowing non-resident drivers to work in Macau.
Lei Si Tai, vice-president of the Industrial Association of Macau, suggested that the local market for expendable goods is significant, with a huge demand for items such as poker cards, gambling tools, in-house utilities and uniforms arising from corporate gaming and public departments.
The vice-president pointed out that the gaming contract, which the administration signed with casino operators, has required them to primarily consider procuring local products. He believes that if the authorities can enforce this clause and ensure that the operators are buying local products, it might attract new investors to come to Macau, who would even bring new technology with them.
Lei Si Tai also said that the government has spent a considerable annual sum on procurement. “I remember that, in 2011, during a session in the Legislative Assembly (AL), Mr Chui promised to support locally produced goods and (promised) that the government would first procure local products. However, it seems that there has yet to be a great result,” Mr Lei said.
Given that the administration has flagged the amendment of the public procurement regime, Lei Si Tai has asked Chui Sai On to implement the policy of buying locally.
In response, Chui Sai On has pledged his intention to establish a task group in January next year after the new government is sworn in.
“I think I can sincerely promise that to all of you, if I am re-elected (…), I agree that we need to set up a group to work on these issues,” he said.
Mr Chui continued to suggest that the goal of the group will be to encourage casino operators to purchase local products. He also believes that it will be easier to ensure that public departments buy locally because there are a number of potential administrative measures and policies that can be introduced.
“I think [the idea of buying locally] is very popular among residents. However, I believe that it is necessary to have a government-directed group [to work on the project] in order to [consider] exactly how to carry out this idea among casino operators,” the CE explained.
Moreover, several industry representatives mentioned non-
resident workers in their queries. Two of them have called upon the government to consider easing restrictions with regards to non-resident drivers working in Macau.
Chui said that people have to be “scientific” when discussing the issues related to non-resident drivers working in the city. He said that the government has already commissioned the Macau Polytechnic Institute (IPM) to analyze the matter.
“After the [IPM] report is out, it will help both parties (employers and employees) to understand the reality [of the situation] and to proceed with the necessary work,” Chui said.
He added that his administration would discuss the issue with casino operators and would ask them to take on the responsibility of taking care of the transportation and accommodation of their non-resident employees.
Apart from the business groups, Chui Sai On also went to the  community center of the Women’s General Association of Macau and held talks with its members yesterday afternoon.
Amongst the audience was Mr Chou, who asked Chui  whether he agrees that a paid parental leave scheme would benefit new fathers as well as new mothers. He also wanted to know when the government might introduce such a scheme.
Mr Chui replied that the government would soon enter discussions regarding the labor law’s amendment, in which paid parental leave for men may be included.
“If you ask me whether I agree with paid paternity leave, I would say I agree,” he said. The CE stated, however, that he does not know whether the issue could be voted upon in the AL or how it could be implemented.
Chui Sai On added that new mothers can receive much-needed support from their partners if paid paternity leave is introduced.
Furthermore, the CE candidate indicated that he will reform the regime that currently governs the appointment of government consultation bodies.
“Sometimes, a person has too many duties (…) My idea for the future is that an individual should not hold positions in too many consultation bodies – no more than three maybe.”
He also expressed the belief that there should be a limit on how many years a person can hold one position in a certain body.
Chui Sai On said that a review of this issue will take place next year.

João Pedro Lau