74
relocation, family and all, often includ-
ing pets.
Then the bubble burst.
Not so grim
For many the second half of 2008
delivered the hammer blow of redun-
dancy. Upping and leaving was the
up North
option many chose but what about the
dispossesed who stayed ?
Engineer John Nash is one of them.
He is looking for a job in the Pearl
River Delta region (PRD). With a solid
Boom town became gloom town late last year, background in managing production
sparking a wave of lay-offs and an exodus
lines, that is his first choice but if that
of unwanted expatriates. Many went home but
route doesn’t pan out, he’ll head north,
to Shanghai or even Beijing.
others have stayed in search of a Plan B
“I am looking for jobs anywhere.
by Joyce Pina
Shenzhen is a possibility, although
many factories are closing, thousands,
I heard. But employment prospects
for expatriates are rosier there than
for Chinese people,’’ he told Macau
Business.
Another option is opening his own
company if things become gloomier:
“I am looking for business opportuni-
ties. If I can’t find a job in the region
I might end up opening my own com-
pany, basing it in Macau”.
Shrinking
Amid the global financial crisis,
the mainland has been positioning it-
self as a friendly working destination
for the professional expatriate com-
munity despite the global downsizing
trend.
Recently, China Daily reported
that Chinese firms are actually hir-
ing more, especially in the fields of
high-tech, engineering, research and
development and the pharmaceutical
industry.
For Jiji Tu, Managing Director of
MSS Recruitment, who specialise in
recruitment and visa services in Macau,
the signs are not bright for expatriates
t
e
r
laid-off from the gaming industry.
s
o “Other probable gaming destina-
l
m
tions such as Philippines are hiring
Í
s a
u
just as cautiously and selectively for
: l
the time being,” she said.
t
o
o
h
“Those in hospitality will also find
p
opportunities to be scarce although
T
hree years ago Macau was a here, with or without employment con- they have broader options in terms of
major focus for human resources tracts, in search of a slice of success as destination choices. Bigger cities and
agencies as job openings piled up the city transformed itself into the Las other popular destinations in China are
in the booming gaming and hospital- Vegas of the East. sensible options should they want to re-
ity industries. Americans, Australians, Failure wasn’t an option and salaries locate to the mainland,” she adds.
Europeans and Hong Kongers flocked were interesting enough to justify a full But Tu says most of those laid off
february 2009
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116 |
Page 117 |
Page 118 |
Page 119 |
Page 120 |
Page 121 |
Page 122 |
Page 123 |
Page 124 |
Page 125 |
Page 126 |
Page 127 |
Page 128 |
Page 129 |
Page 130 |
Page 131 |
Page 132 |
Page 133 |
Page 134 |
Page 135 |
Page 136 |
Page 137 |
Page 138 |
Page 139 |
Page 140