To promote job protection for local residents, the government established the Employment Promotion Coordination Working Group, aiming to assist unemployed and underemployed residents in securing stable jobs. Authorities have indicated they are considering revising the number of local workers in different roles for public works tenders and setting minimum quotas. Many believe that effective implementation of these measures is essential.
Recently, some local construction workers reported being dismissed after the projects they worked on were completed. While the Labour Affairs Bureau (DSAL) scheduled interviews for other projects, some employers imposed disproportionate demands during recruitment, causing candidates to withdraw. There were also cases of workers hired as carpenters being reassigned to welding tasks without proper training. Instead of training them, the employers criticized them for lacking welding skills and “working too slowly.”
These local workers and job seekers argue that, although authorities promise to prioritize local hiring in public works and services, it is essential to effectively supervise employers who impose unrealistic recruitment conditions—hindering resident employment—or who offer only part-time work, causing underemployment.
Recent construction-sector data show daily wages for local workers such as rebar fixers, formwork carpenters, cabinetmakers, welders, concrete workers, and heavy vehicle drivers fell in the first quarter of this year compared to Q4 2019. Moreover, with the current economic climate, the volume of public construction in Macau has decreased compared to previous years, raising concerns about worsening underemployment.
Authorities are expected to proactively monitor unfair treatment faced by local residents during job search and at the workplace, and respond effectively. In addition to ensuring companies comply with the principle of prioritizing local hiring, it is necessary to investigate whether companies deliberately hinder access to employment or professional performance of local workers. Concrete measures are indispensable to protect the labor rights and job quality of residents, ensuring fair treatment throughout the recruitment process and professional activity.
Macau Federation of Trade Unions
