Businesses not concerned with new law-MSS Recruitment in the press

Ten years later and for the first time, the Macau Special Administrative Region’s Government is updating the bill for imported labour. Non-resident workers are regarding it with some mistrust. On the contrary, employers are not so worried about the impact that the new law may cause on their business.

Grace Wong is a human resources officer that works for a retail company. She attended a seminar yesterday hosted by the MSS Recruitment Limited, conducted by a group of lawyers. Grace holds a list of questions written down that she needs clarification on.
“The law says the imported employee that has left Macau over three months continuously will have his work permit suspended, but sometimes they have to go back to their countries for several reasons. What will happen?” she asked.
Terence Wong, regional general manager of a video surveillance systems’ company, doesn’t have any questions or concerns in particular. He just wants to “get more information about the employment policies”.
Around 20 business people and human resources professionals attended the seminar. They come from different areas, such as retail, gaming, engineering, airlines and education. Tomorrow, the same initiative will be held in Hong Kong, with 50 people applied.
“A lot of business employers have a number of questions about the actual execution of the law for the next months,” director of MSS recruitment, Jiji Tu, said. “Staffing is one of the most important matters in Macau and the law is being updated for the first time. So the balance and the relationship between imported and local labour is a challenge for both employers and employees,” she added.

No worries

At the end of last week, the Macau Migrants Network (MMRN) had a meeting and decided to intensify the campaign against the law including raising the issue with the International Labour Organisation and the United Nations. They deem the law is still unclear and discriminatory for migrant workers and demand a number of changes.
Completing opposing employees’ apprehension, the employers seem too quiet about possible consequences of the new law on their businesses.
Terence Chang admitted that local manpower hasn’t the right skills for the job in his company. Still, he is positive in what concerns the new law.
“I don’t see how the bill could bring more difficulties for the employer. Because, once they have a quota it is less likely for the employee to leave,” said the chairman of the British Business Association of Macau, Henry Brockman, speaking to the Macau Daily Times by phone.
He is referring mainly to the six months provision, which is being strongly criticised by the MMRN. The law says that a new work permit won’t be granted to the same imported employee within six months, if he leaves his previous employer on his own before the contract/quota expires or is cancelled and without consent from his previous employer. This aims to prevent the imported employee to change employer. That means that one cannot employ those non-locals whose work permits are cancelled within half a year and without previous employer’s consent.
The major problem pointed out by Henry Brockman is related with language. “There is a fear within our members because the information about the law is not available in English,” he emphasised.
Yesterday, a team from the attorneys’ company C&C was giving answers to business doubts and concerns. On the sidelines of the seminar, Rui Cunha, one of the founders of the lawyers’ firm, recommended that employers should pay attention to the all new requisites and legal procedures, so as to troubleshoot any problems in the future.
The law on imported labour is currently being discussed by the Legislative Assembly. After the approval, it is estimated that the bill will take effect on April of next year.

News Source: Macau Daily Times, 11 November 2009   http://www.macaudailytimes.com.mo/macau/5731-Businesses-not-concerned-with-new-law.html