The Macau government began public consultations on Monday about the proposed implementation of a minimum wage for all workers – but domestic workers and disabled employees may be exempted from any statutory provisions.
The period of public consultation will end on December 27.
Wong Chi-hong, chief of the Labour Affairs Bureau, told a press conference on Sunday that the bureau would collect opinions from citizens before proposing a minimum wage. He said the focus would be on drawing up a statutory city-wide minimum wage system, Macau Daily News reported.
The current minimum wage for cleaners and doormen employed by the property management sector has been set at 30 Macau patacas (US$3.74) per hour since January 1, 2016.
The bureau proposed excluding domestic helpers and disabled workers from the implementation of a minimum wage, and drawing comparative steps taken in mainland China and Hong Kong.
In 2016, 44,200 workers employed in different sectors earned less than 30 Macau patacas per hour, a consultation paper showed. Some 23,600 of them were domestic workers employed under a local work-permit system known as ‘Blue Card’.
Wong said that as most domestic workers live with employers, it was difficult to set a minimum wage for them.
Meanwhile, lawmakers Wong Kit-cheng and Lei Chan U urged the government to exempt domestic workers from the consultation, saying the move would add to families’ financial burdens, Jornal Do Cidadao reported.
Then how about the burden of helpers works 15 hrs to 18 hrs.Many here work non stop from the time start to wake up until the time before go to bed.During day off helpers still working before leaving employers house when arrive home at night still need to work.Why don’t you try interviewing a bunch of domestic helpers to know their real situation.
maybe its time to go home
Why Hongkong government has Minimun wage for Domestic workers, why cannot implement also in Macau? Maybe not per hour basis but per month..just like in HK
If implementing minimum wage for domestic helpers would add to the family’s financial burdens,they should not hire a helper. And to think that most of the middle-class employers are the ones who tend to be slave-drivers. It is unfair on the part of the domestic helpers to just make do of whatever amount their employers want to pay them wether they are stay-in or stay-out. The law-makers should consider the situations of the household helpers. They work hard,they deserve to be paid well.
Unfair!
this is a clear discrimination on part of us domestic helpers…on my part i work 12 to 13 hours a day without any overtime pay…at least the macau government should implement a minimum wage and minimum working hours…we also work hard or i think harder than that of the cleaners/doormen or other workers…
Maybe its time to go back home and let them do everything and will see what happen!
it’s so unfair.16 to 18 hours working.where.is.your heart and your mind.all chinese employer have enough money.to pay the minimum wage.si you know what is domestic helper mr、3200 if your family.bigger,,so you think enough thus money.all helper.buy own food.this is not provided by the employer.wake up Mr.wake up before the pilipino helper decided to go home.chinese maid earned 8k mop.hello what is the difference.this is a big shit
I agree with you sis,let them do everything