A group of Filipino migrant workers in Macau have clinched a significant legal victory against their former employer, Tai Koo Cleaning Service Company after the company was found guilty of multiple labour breaches by a local court.
The case was initiated in 2022 when 35 non-resident Filipino workers filed complaints with the Labour Affairs Bureau (DSAL) over unpaid wages for three months. Despite mediation by the DSAL, the company only paid one month’s salary to some employees and laid off 18 staff behind the complaints.
The company was subsequently taken to court, where it was found to have violated several labour laws, including illegally terminating 18 migrant workers, failing to provide compensation for overtime work and annual leave, and forcing employees to work on statutory holidays.
In a landmark ruling, the employer was ordered to pay compensation to the dismissed staff and a fine of MOP240,000 (US$29,739). The victory is seen as a significant win for migrant workers in Macau who usually enjoy fewer perks and benefits than their local counterparts.
A migrant worker involved in the case named Mariel was quoted as saying that she hopes the verdict will encourage fellow Filipino workers to stand up for their labour rights in Macau.
“Justice is fair in Macau,” she said.
She also called on authorities to provide language translation services to assist foreign workers in giving evidence in court, as the majority of official documents are written in Chinese or Portuguese, making it difficult for non-native speakers to navigate the legal system.
