The Secretary for Economy and Finance, Mr Leong Vai Tac, speaks to reporters.
The Secretary for Economy and Finance, Mr Leong Vai Tac, today said the Government was progressing with plans – in a pragmatic manner – to launch a minimum wage system that would apply to all employees in Macao.
Before launching such a system, the proposed plan would need to go through a public consultation process and the necessary legislative procedures, i.e. the Executive Council and the Legislative Assembly, Mr Leong added.
Speaking to reporters today following a meeting of a Legislative Assembly committee, Mr Leong said the Government strived and hoped to create a city-wide minimum wage system, within three years of the enactment of the Law on Minimum Wage for Cleaning and Security Workers of the Property Management Industry.
The Law on the Minimum Wage for Cleaning and Security Workers of the Property Management Industry came into force on 1 January, 2016.
Nonetheless, an effective date for the launch of a city-wide minimum wage system would only be proposed after a public consultation, taking into consideration the opinions from different sectors of society, and in particular the comments from members of the Legislative Assembly.
The Government is currently evaluating the implementation of the law on the minimum wage for cleaning staff and security workers. Once that review is completed, the Government would initiate the preliminary work for a city-wide minimum wage system, including preparatory works for a proposal for public consultation, said Mr Leong.
In addition, the Secretary also made comments regarding the decline in the number of gaming promoters in Macao, saying such decrease was due to the Government’s strengthened supervision of the sector. The Government had launched stricter guidelines regulating the work of gaming promoters. This could have resulted in a number of gaming promoters deciding not to continue their activity, as they would have to face stricter rules and supervision.
The Government is committed to raising the amount of capital companies are required to pledge to become eligible for a gaming promoter licence, in a bid to enhance service quality and in order to enable a healthy and orderly development of the industry.