Speaking to journalists, on the sidelines of China’s National Day celebrations, Ho Iat Seng assured that public service workers will receive more money in January.
However, the chief executive did not reveal what the value of the salary increase might be, adding that it will be proposed by the Public Service Remuneration Assessment Commission, whose report has not yet been published.
Ho said he will reveal the proposal for a salary increase in the civil service during the presentation of the Government Action Lines (LAG) for 2024, at the Legislative Assembly, which usually takes place in November.
Speaking to journalists, on the sidelines of China’s National Day celebrations, Ho Iat Seng assured that public service workers will receive more money in January.
However, the chief executive did not reveal what the value of the salary increase might be, adding that it will be proposed by the Public Service Remuneration Assessment Commission, whose report has not yet been published.
Ho said he will reveal the proposal for a salary increase in the civil service during the presentation of the Government Action Lines (LAG) for 2024, at the Legislative Assembly, which usually takes place in November.
In recent weeks, the Government leader has been meeting with civil society associations to prepare the LAG for 2024, with several groups advocating a salary update of between 3.5 percent and 4.65 percent for the public sector.
Ho recalled today that on August 11 he had told deputies that it would be “opportune” to increase the salaries of public workers, which have been frozen since 2019, due to the economic crisis caused by the pandemic.
Macau’s public expenditure fell 10 percent in the first eight months of 2023, to 54.6 billion patacas, with current expenditure also shrinking 17.5 percent to 42.5 billion patacas.
On the contrary, the region’s current revenue more than doubled in annual terms, reaching 48.1 billion patacas, thanks to the recovery of taxes on gambling. Even so, Macau only managed to keep its accounts in positive territory thanks to transfers totaling 10.3 billion patacas from the financial reserve.
In his speech today, at the reception of China’s National Day, Ho Iat Seng said that the diversification plan, until 2028, of Macau’s economy, dependent on tourism, “is practically completed” and that “it will be officially announced very soon ”.
The plan foresees a focus on commercial and financial services between China and Portuguese-speaking countries, the promotion of traditional Chinese medicine in Portuguese-speaking markets, as well as efforts to attract technology from Brazil and Portugal.
On the sidelines of the ceremony, the Secretary for Economy and Finance said he was cooperating with the Secretary for Transport and Public Works, Raimundo do Rosário, and with the airline Air Macau to try to launch direct intercontinental flights.
Lei Wai Nong admitted that as Macau currently only has flights to mainland China and Southeast Asia, it is difficult to attract a significant number of tourists from Europe and the United States.
*With Lusa
