A statement from the Legal Affairs Bureau (DSAJ), Public Security Police (PSP) and Labour Affairs Bureau (DSAL) announced on Monday that in line with the “Law on the Employment of Non-resident Workers”, non-resident workers can only work for their officially registered employer and carry out work only according to the position specified on the Non-resident Worker’s Identification Card, informally known as “blue card”.
According to the statement, the law also includes an “employment ban” on non-resident workers (NRWs), which regulates “their unethical behaviour for the purpose of changing jobs at will”.
The statement noted the NRWs’ Authorisation to Stay as Worker will be revoked or invalidated if they resign on their “own initiative without negotiating with their employer” or upon termination by the employer with just cause such as “intentional fault, absenteeism and repeated indifference to work” before the expiry of the labour contract.
The “big employment ban” will also restrict NRWs’ job changes, the statement said, where they will not be granted a new Authorisation to Stay within six months, meaning they cannot work in Macau within the period concerned.
The statement pointed that the “small employment ban” will restrict any job changes by the NRWs if their Authorisation to Stay as Worker has been terminated before the expiry of the labour contract due to four reasons: “the employment authorisation granted to the employer is revoked; the employer and the employee agree to terminate the employment relationship; the employer terminates the labour contract unilaterally or without just cause; and the employee terminates the labour contract with just cause”.
This means, according to the statement, that the NRW will be granted a new Authorisation to Stay as Worker “only when their new job within six months is the same as the occupation approved in the latest employment authorisation”.
The statement also emphasised that except for renewals, NRWs who plan to come to the city to work as a non-skilled worker or domestic helper must obtain an Entry Permit for Work Purpose.
Moreover, to be granted an Authorisation to Stay as Worker, the statement pointed out that the NRWs have to come from outside of Macau. They must also observe the local COVID-19 prevention measures when entering the city.
This infographic provided the Legal Affairs Bureau (DSAJ), Public Security Police (PSP) and the Labour Affairs Bureau (DSAL) provides an explanation of what the “big employment ban” is, along with an example.
This infographic provided by the different entities explains how a NRW may face a “small employment ban”.
