Macau (MNA) – Legislators currently evaluating the new law proposal for regulating employment agencies are worried that if the law is approved as is it would require any person or company currently providing assistance in employment related procedures to obtain a licence.
The information was provided this Thursday by the president of the Legislative Assembly’s (AL) third permanent committee, legislator Vong Hin Fai, following the second meeting held to evaluate the law proposal.
According to the committee president several legislators raised the issue that several Articles of the law proposal are not comprehensive enough and that further clarification from the government was needed.
On Article 5 of the proposal it is stipulated that only licensed employment agencies can provide assistance or consultancy services to employers or non-resident workers on employment related bureaucracy.
If enforced, the law would require some companies that can currently provide these services, such as law,accounting or consultancy firms.
“So , if the employer doesn’t want to hire an employment agency can it ask a friend or find a company to help? Is the employment agency involved in the process after the employee is hired? And are the employment agency services only required for the first request or do they include the work visa renewal?” Vong asked.
The committee will also task the government on a discrepancy between the law proposal and current regulation for hiring non-resident worker hiring procedures, which demands employment agencies assist workers find housing.
“The new proposal doesn’t include this. Does that mean that if employment agencies don’t provide this they will still be sanctioned?” queried legislator Vong.
Legislators also asked the government to clarify if employment agencies from the Greater Bay Area could search or promote job positions to Macau residents.
The draft proposal excludes entities that provide employment services for free or education institutions from applying for an employment agency licence, with legislators e nquiring if foundations will also be excluded.
“The current law also excludes media and communication companies from applying for a licence. Why doesn’t the new law include this?” said legislator Vong.
The proposed law also states in one of its Articles that local employment agencies will be prohibited from providing services to non-residents who are in the territory on a tourist visa or even hold a work permit.
