Secretary for Security Wong Sio Chak said in the legislature’s hemicycle yesterday that the government will require nationals from six countries to submit a certificate of non-criminal record when applying to work in Macau.
In some jurisdictions, the document is known as certificate of no criminal conviction.
Wong made the remarks when answering a question from indirectly-elected lawmaker-cum-unionist Lei Chan U, on the last day of a two-day Q&A session about his portfolio’s policy guidelines for next year.
The Public Security Police (PSP) announced last month that Vietnamese nationals applying for a work permit – informally known as “blue card” – in Macau will need to submit a non-criminal record certificate for their application to be processed, starting from February 1 next year.
The police said at that time that the measure was needed to “respond to the actual situation of public security, migration controls and the labour market for non-resident workers”.
The Immigration Department is run by the Public Security Police.
Lei asked yesterday why the police had decided to implement the new measure only for Vietnamese nationals and whether the measure would cover more jurisdictions.
Wong replied that in addition to Vietnam, five countries, namely Bangladesh, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan and Sri Lanka would gradually be added to the measure and those applying to work in the city would then have to submit a non-criminal record certificate as well. He said that the measure would be implemented first for Vietnamese nationals on a trial basis.
According to Wong, nationals from the six countries need a visa to enter Macau as tourists.
Wong did not specify when the government will implement the new measure for the other five countries.
Wong insisted that the government was not “discriminating” against the six countries in the implementation of the new measure, adding that the government has decided to launch the measure after analysing the city’s crime statistics. He said the government expected the measure to help ensure the city’s public security.
Meanwhile, Wong also said that he was open to the possible relaunch of a pension system for the personnel of the city’s public security forces. He made the remarks when answering a question from directly-elected lawmaker-cum-building contractor Mak Soi Kun.
In his question, Mak said that the current provident fund system was not favourable for the retention of staff in the public security forces, after the public servants’ previous pension system was abolished about 10 years ago.
The current provident fund system for the city’s public servants was implemented in January 2007 and is applicable to public servants who joined the government after the implementation. Public servants who joined the government before that could opt to receive their pension based on the former system, or opt to switch to the provident fund system.
In reply to Mak, Wong said he was open to the possible relaunch of a pension system for public security forces’ personnel. He said that in the wake of Super Typhoon Hato in August, he agrees that law enforcement staff should enjoy more benefits and protection.
Secretary for Security Wong Sio Chak (left) speaks during yesterday’s Q&A session about his portfolio’s 2018 policy guidelines in the legislature’s hemicycle, as his chief-of-cabinet Cheong Ioc Ieng looks on. Photo: Tony Wong
