Workers’ rights and economic growth were top concerns for FAOM lawmakers over the past four years

Lawmakers from the Macau Federation of Trade Unions (FAOM) highlighted workers’ rights and economic growth as their top priorities over the past four years, presenting a summary of their legislative work and key initiatives aimed at improving employment, welfare, and community development yesterday.

Over the past four years, the lawmakers have said they focused their actions on several key areas, including boosting the economy and stabilizing employment, advocating for workers’ rights and combating illegal labor practices, and increasing pensions and improving welfare for the elderly and residents.

They also focused on addressing education, healthcare, and transportation issues, as well as promoting urban planning and the efficient use of idle land.

The majority of their interventions were focused on labor rights and economic development.

According to the group, the four lawmakers, who comprise the directly elected Ella Lei and Leong Sun Iok, as well as the indirectly elected Lei Chan U and Lam Lon Wai, have submitted a total of 221 oral inquiries before the agenda, 555 written inquiries, and 71 interventions on agenda matters.

Summarizing their work, the lawmakers noted that, regarding employment stability, “we urged the government to ensure the principle of ‘local residents prioritized for employment, and good jobs reserved for locals,’ demanding further reductions in the number of foreign workers in large corporations, gaming companies, and bank administrative roles to allocate more suitable positions to locals.”

They also said they focused on the challenges of youth and middle-aged residents in accessing the job market, calling on the government to provide targeted policies for the different groups.

The lawmakers noted, “Currently, the labor market also faces irregular hiring practices, such as ‘local residents working short-term jobs while foreign workers hold long-term positions,’ leading to local residents being ‘undervalued’ with unstable incomes,” remarking that, in the future term, they aim to continue to monitor issues related to wages and benefits, working conditions, staff stress, and mental and physical health across various industries.

Regarding economic development matters, the FAOM lawmakers urged the government to introduce consumer cards or extend consumer discounts to boost community economies, alleviate residents’ living costs, and reduce operational pressures on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

“Simultaneously, we urge the government to leverage non-gaming projects to cultivate emerging industries, utilize gaming enterprise resources and major event opportunities to channel foot traffic and resources into communities, thereby benefiting more SMEs,” they said.

Looking back, the lawmakers believe they have consistently fulfilled their duties over the past four years, and aim to continue striving to secure favorable employment conditions and development opportunities for residents.

On future matters, Lei Chan U, who has announced he will not run in the upcoming elections, said that FAOM will continue to enforce its ideals and urge the government to improve legislation to better secure workers’ rights.

He noted his intention to push the government to initiate a separate labor law for the Cooperation Zone in Hengqin.

Among other battles, the FAOM says it will continue to fight for the improvement of the two-tier social security system and the transition of the Central Provident Fund system from non-mandatory to mandatory.

Concerning civil servants, the FAOM proposes reviewing their allowance and official duty systems, increasing maternity leave, and prioritizing their physical and mental well-being.