Imported labour shrinks – a bit

Macau’s number of non-resident (imported) workers fell by 474 last month compared with the same month of last year, the Labour Affairs Bureau (DSAL) has announced. At the end of last month, the number of non-resident workers stood at 180,277, compared with 182,178 in the previous month and 180,751 a year earlier. Mainlanders accounted for 64.5 percent of all non-resident workers last month. Other major segments came from the Philippines (25,970), Vietnam (14,790), Hong Kong

October 27, 2016 | BY admin

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Local telecom operators call for fair competition

Several local telecom operators urged the government to give them a level-playing field at a forum hosted by the Macau Institution of People’s Alliance (API) at its office yesterday.Directly translated, the group’s Chinese name means “Alliance of People Who Build Up Macau”. The forum focused on the “unfair” competitive environment of the local telecom market. Telecom operator CTM signed a so-called “5+5” agreement with the government in 2009 which grants the company the

October 27, 2016 | BY admin

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CTM rolls out ‘biggest ever’ tariff discounts for firms, telecoms

CTM Chief Executive Officer Vandy Poon Fuk Hei yesterday announced the company’s “biggest ever” tariff reductions, its second round of discounts on its telecom service within two months, just as their concession agreement with the government is due to be extended for another five years.CTM held a press conference at its head office in Taipa just after the government had approved its tariff reductions on the local leased circuit (LLC), international private leased circuit (IPLC) and direct

October 27, 2016 | BY admin

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Officials divided over property management bill

Lawmaker-cum-unionist Kwan Tsui Hang said yesterday that officials from the Housing Bureau (IH) and Legal Affairs Bureau (DSAJ) were divided about an article in a government-initiated bill on regulating property management companies working for residential buildings. The article states that a property management company must give flat owners six-months notice before ending its service.The legislature’s 1st Standing Committee held a closed-door meeting with government officials from the two

October 27, 2016 | BY admin

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Street performances to become legal: govt

The government will allow street performers to show their talents in three designated areas – the Taipa-Houses Museum, Mount Fortress Garden and Anim’Arte Nam Van – starting from November 11, the Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC) announced yesterday during a press conference at the Macau Tea Culture House.Addressing the press conference, IC Vice-President Leung Hio Ming said the bureau will launch a programme which aims to provide a platform for artistic performances and help develop Macau

October 26, 2016 | BY admin

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First domestic violence suspect nabbed under new law: police

The Judiciary Police (PJ) announced yesterday the arrest of a 39-year-old man for alleged domestic violence, the first case under a new law which took early effect this month. Police officers arrested the local resident on Sunday on suspicion of physical and psychological abuse of his 38-year-old wife, a Judiciary Police (PJ) spokesperson said at a special briefing yesterday.The spokesperson also said that it was the first case of a person in Macau facing possible arraignment on a charge

October 26, 2016 | BY admin

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Chui to deliver 2017 Policy Address on Nov 15

Chief Executive Fernando Chui Sai On will deliver his 2017 Policy Address in the legislature’s hemicycle on November 15, the Legislative Assembly (AL) announced yesterday. According to the announcement, Chui will answer lawmakers’ questions about the policy address on November 16. The government’s five policy secretaries will present their respective 2017 portfolio guidelines to the legislature one by one from November 22-29, according to the announcement. PLEASE READ THE

October 26, 2016 | BY admin

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280,000 syringes found in 7 years: legislator

About 280,000 discarded syringes by intravenous drug users were found in the city’s northern district between 2008 and last year, Cheang Chi Keong, president of the 3rd Standing Committee of the Legislative Assembly, told reporters yesterday. Cheang described the number as “frightening”, pointing out that on the average 40,000 discarded syringes were found in the densely populated district per annum during the seven-year period. “The number is frightening, isn’t it?”,

October 26, 2016 | BY admin

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Local wedding market is small: contractor

Lo Tak Chong, the managing director of MacExpo Exhibition Co. Ltd, said yesterday that the size of Macau’s wedding market is small, as there are only 4,000 couples getting married per year in the city.Lo made the remarks during a press conference at the Macau Business Support Centre in Nape. The press conference was held by the Macau Wedding Industry Commercial Association about the 8th Asian Wedding Celebration Expo.According to a statement by the association, the fair will be held at Macau

October 26, 2016 | BY admin

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City’s 1st ‘WiFi Street’ activated in northern district

Macau’s first “WiFi Street”, extending from the Barrier Gate Plaza to the Lin Zexu Memorial Museum, was activated yesterday for a one-year trial. The project is being organised by the Macau International Industrial Technology Development Association (AIDIT).Users can enjoy a 30-minute session of free WiFi for each log-in within the one-kilometre length of the street. The service runs 24/7 and users can log in for an unlimited number of times.According to AIDIT President Lei Choi Hong, the

October 26, 2016 | BY admin

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Govt vows to boost transparency of urban renewal council

Secretary for Transport and Public Works Raimundo do Rosario said yesterday that the Urban Renewal Council will release as much information as possible after each meeting.Rosario made the remarks when replying to an oral interpellation by directly-elected lawmaker Wong Kit Cheng as well as several other lawmakers’ follow-up comments, during a plenary session of the legislature.In her interpellation, Wong, a nurse by profession, urged the government to speed up the urban renewal

October 26, 2016 | BY admin

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Govt once mulled scooter ban on bridges during No.3 signal: Rosario

Secretary for Transport and Public Works Raimundo do Rosario told the legislature yesterday that the government once considered banning scooters from using Sai Van Bridge and Friendship Bridge when the No. 3 typhoon signal is hoisted.Lawmakers Melinda Chan Mei Yi and Jose Pereira Coutinho yesterday urged the Meteorological and Geophysical Bureau (SMG) to review and improve its mechanism for the hoisting of typhoon signals – which comprise the No. 1, No. 3, No. 8, No. 9 and No. 10 signals.Both

October 26, 2016 | BY admin

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Govt decides to raise FSS dues despite lack of consensus

The Social Security Fund (FSS) announced yesterday that the monthly dues paid by employers and employees will be increased from the current 45 patacas to 90 patacas from the beginning of next year, with the ratio that both sides contribute remaining unchanged at 1:2, despite a lack of consensus on the ratio. Addressing a press conference at the fund’s office, FSS President Iong Kong Io said the dues would continue to be split 1:2 whereby employees will pay 30 patacas and employers 60

October 25, 2016 | BY admin

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Govt vows to improve workers’ holiday rules ASAP

Labour Affairs Bureau (DSAL) Director Wong Chi Hong pledged yesterday that the government will finish drafting a bill to amend the Labour Relations Law as soon as possible, in response to demands by the labour sector to make it compulsory that all employees have a day off in-lieu, when a particular statutory holiday falls on their weekly day off.According to the Labour Relations Law, employees must be given one day off every week. Besides, there are 10 statutory holidays every year.Wong made

October 25, 2016 | BY admin

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