The Labor Affairs Bureau (DSAL) announced the start of a 45-day public consultation on the revision of Law No. 7/2008 (Labor Relations Law). The process will run until March 16 and focuses mainly on increasing maternity leave and changing the annual leave system for workers.
According to the proposal, maternity leave should increase from the current 70 to 90 days, of which up to 30 can be taken in advance. The measure aims to respond to the physical and mental health needs of female workers and their families, gradually bringing Macao into line with international standards and practices.
To mitigate the financial impact on businesses, especially small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), the Government proposes to grant a supplementary allowance corresponding to up to 20 days’ pay, intended only for female resident workers. Non-resident female workers will also benefit from the increase in leave, although they will not be eligible for the subsidy.
According to data from a study commissioned from a third party, 74.8% of workers and 53.9% of employers were in favor of increasing maternity leave to 90 days, advocating a sharing of costs between the government and employers. During the transition period of the supplementary allowance plan, between May and December 2025, support for 1,476 workers was approved, totaling 15.45 million patacas.
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With regard to annual leave, the proposal provides for the introduction of a seniority-based increase mechanism. While maintaining the current basis of six working days after the first year of work, one working day will be added for every two full years of service, up to a maximum of 12 working days.
This scheme will not affect workers who already benefit from more than 12 days of annual leave. The study indicates that 88.8% of workers and 58.7% of employers support the increase, although micro and small businesses have expressed concerns about the availability of human resources.
The DSAL emphasizes that the aim of the changes is to continuously optimize the guarantee of labor rights and interests, raising the quality of life of workers, without neglecting the ability of companies to adapt. During the consultation period, three public sessions will be held, scheduled for February 8 and 27 and March 7.
After gathering opinions, the Government will draft the bill and submit it to the Permanent Council for Social Dialogue, with the revision already included in the Annual Legislative Plan.
