The government’s childbirth fee hike for low-income non-resident workers will be threefold, while for other non-resident workers and tourists it will be ninefold, Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture Alexis Tam Chon Weng told the media yesterday, saying that he made the decision after listening to concerns raised by local migrant worker groups regarding the ninefold fee increase originally proposed by the Health Bureau for all non-local residents giving birth in Macau, except for those whose husband is a local resident.
Tam made the remarks while speaking to reporters after attending Melco’s Whole Person Development Event at City of Dreams.
The Health Bureau (SSM) earlier this month announced plans to raise childbirth fees by 800 percent, or ninefold, for non-local residents using the service at the public Conde de Sao Januario Hospital Centre. According to the original proposal, only non-local women whose husbands are a local resident were to be exempted from the 800 percent fee hike.
Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture Alexis Tam Chon Weng speaks to reporters after attending Melco’s Whole Person Development Event at City of Dreams yesterday. Photo: Monica Leong
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