Labour Affairs Bureau (DSAL) Employment Department Chief Chan Ka In told reporters on the sidelines of an award ceremony yesterday that as of last month, 10 percent of job seekers were retirees aged 65 or above. Most elderly job seekers lean towards low-skilled roles, particularly in cleaning services.
The award ceremony for the “2026 Outstanding Senior Employees and Senior Employers Recognition Programme” was held at Macau Fisherman’s Wharf, aiming to praise elderly employees for their outstanding performance across various roles, acknowledge enterprises and institutions actively hiring seniors, foster public respect for the experience and skills of older workers, and promote diverse employment opportunities and social inclusion.
Addressing compensation and recruitment policies for the elderly, Chan underscored that remuneration is tied to job rank and personal seniority rather than age, adding that cases of hiring elderly individuals in their 70s can be found across enterprises of various sizes and industries, showing no distinct sector or scale polarisation. Furthermore, official government job-matching procedures have no age or gender restrictions, he said.
Chan pointed out that in this year’s edition, a total of 65 enterprises and organisations across 13 industries were commended for collectively employing over 3,400 elderly employees. The sectors covered property management, large leisure enterprises, food and beverage, and the social services industry. He added that a total of 20 outstanding elderly employees and 65 businesses and organisations employing “senior talents” were recognised during the ceremony.
Social Welfare Bureau (IAS) Deputy Director Teng Sio Hong noted in a speech that since the recognition scheme was introduced in 2017, about 850 senior employees have been nominated, and more than 140 enterprises and institutions have been awarded.
IAS Social Solidarity Department Chief U Ka Wai told reporters yesterday that data from this year’s awardees reveals that nearly 40 percent of the recognised elderly employees are aged 70 or older, proving that advanced-age seniors retain reliable working capabilities. In addition, around 30 percent of the recognised workers have remained in their current positions for over 10 years, with the longest tenure reaching 45 years, underscoring exceptional job stability among senior workers.
Outstanding senior employees and their employers pose during yesterday’s Outstanding Senior Employees and Seniors Employers Recognition Programme award ceremony at Macau Fisherman’s Wharf. – Photo: Ida Cheong
