The Government of the Macao Special Administrative Region (Macao SARG) has enacted the “Law on Employment of Non-Resident Workers” to regulate the importation of labour. The current labour importation policy of Macao SARG operates on the principles that local workers are accorded priority in filling available job vacancies and that importation of labour will not jeopardize the interests of resident workers. Employers are allowed to import workers to supplement the local workforce only when no suitable local workers are available or the local supply is not sufficient. Applications for importation of labour have to be filed by Macao-registered companies to the Human Resources Office.

Generally speaking, non-resident workers should have obtained from Macao authority a permission to work before they commence working in Macao. The Human Resources Office is responsible for processing applications for permission to work for non-resident workers while matters relating to the entry and stay of non-resident workers fall within the ambit of the Public Security Police Force. Employers who have obtained approval to import non-professional workers should submit through licensed employment agency a worker list to The Foreign Workers' Division of the Immigration Department of Macao SARG (Comissariado de T.N.R. of the Servico de Migracao) for vetting and issue of identity card to the workers. Information on the procedures for obtaining a foreign worker's identity card is available at the website of the Macao SARG at http://www.fsm.gov.mo/psp/sm/default.htm (Chinese version only)

People intending to work in Macao should have, before commencing employment, obtained the permission to work. They are advised to require their prospective employers to produce the work permit granted by Macao authority in order to ascertain if they can work legally in Macao. In case of doubt, employees may approach the Human Resources Office or the Comissariado de T.N.R. (Chinese version only) for assistance in verifying the employment status in order to comply with the rules and regulations of Macao.

Local employees of Hong Kong companies who are deployed to station in Macao are also required to enter into employment contract with the relevant Macao companies which should apply to the Human Resources Office for the necessary approval to employ these employees.