Thanks to the relaxation of anti-epidemic measures and the MSAR Government’s various measures to attract tourists, the Chinese New Year vacation in Macau has seen a significant increase in visitors and the market is booming again. The State Council of China recently announced the full resumption of travel between the Mainland, Hong Kong, and Macau, as well as group travel activities with Hong Kong and Macau.
A series of policies and measures have helped accelerate the recovery of the post-epidemic economy, improve people’s livelihoods and promote employment. We hope that the Macao SAR Government will be well prepared for the opportunities and challenges of the new normal after the epidemic, so that all Macao residents can be!
In terms of employment and labor training, with the gradual recovery of various industries, the demand for has increased significantly, and the Macao SAR Government also pointed out that it is preparing to recover the nearly 40 million visitors that Macao received in 2019.
In this regard, it is expected that the authorities, while promoting economic recovery, will strive to recover employment, whose numbers dropped especially during the epidemic, especially at a time when the situation of unemployment, underemployment and declining wages for residents is serious. The authorities should continue to do a good job in promoting and optimizing employment, and keep a good check on the situation to ensure that local people are given priority in employment, and reasonably increase labor pay and worker protection.
At the same time, with the promotion of the moderately diversified “1+4” development strategy, the demand for human resources in the labor market has also changed. During the period of the epidemic, the Directorate of Labor Affairs launched a number of training programs and projects with subsidies.
It is therefore expected that the authorities will not reduce investment in training resources to boost economic recovery. At the same time, it is necessary to provide residents with training programs suited to the needs of economic and social development, increasing competitiveness of the local labor force and enabling economic development to improve people’s livelihoods and optimize Macao’s employment structure and environment.
Finally, while economic development is important, it is also necessary to take into account Macao’s carrying capacity and balance tourism and social development. As the government prepares for the recovery of 40 million visitors, it should also examine the capacity of other areas, such as transportation, customs clearance and tourism resources, ensuring a balance between economic development and community resources.
The “Strolling along Almeida Ribeiro – Pilot Project for the Pedestrian Area” initiative is the first of its kind in Macau and has had a positive effect in enriching the cultural and tourist experience and boosting the community economy. However, as Almeida Ribeiro Avenue is a major transportation hub, it will have a significant impact on Macau’s traffic and the livelihood of residents in the area. Therefore, the creation of a pedestrian zone for a long period of time is not recommended.
Consideration could be given to opening it exceptionally for important dates such as National Day and Golden Weeks, or even choosing a more suitable location, thereby reducing the impact on Macao’s traffic and residents’ lives and travel.
*Macao Legislative Assembly Member/Federation of Macao Workers’ Associations
