35
An Aussie’s tale
A
N Australian expatriate who was hired by a local casino services supplier and made redundant recently told
macau business: “The blue card system does not promote social integration and is unfair because in the space of
one day we are forced to pack and leave town, with all the social and monetary expenses that incurs.’’
“We also contribute to the local economy’s development. A massive exodus of expatriates won’t solve the economic
problems because locals are already living here and won’t spend that extra money we are spending,’’ he says.
For this highly skilled worker the only ones profiting from the situation are companies that will save money on
salaries. “The macau Government should look into this aspect because replacements might not give as good added
value,’’ said the laid-off professional.
The Australian national has lived in macau for almost two years. Although he signed a very “interesting’’ contract,
he opted to come for the experience.
“High wages in my field are easy to find. I work with electronics, so there are not so many experts in the area.
macau was somehow exotic, this is why I decided to come. However, macau is not an international city, neither is it a
charming place to live, but its development is almost unseen. being here is a kind of challenge,’’ he says.
There are no problems finding another job. major projects are facing a temporary halt, in a few months the
construction of mega-adult playgrounds on the cotai Strip are expected to resume and all the highly skilled workers
made redundant today will be invited back, he says.
“Although I was offered another position in the sector, I might not stay due to the way foreigners were and are
being treated by legislators and politicians that are aiming at us now. There is a crisis and suddenly all the smiles
disappear.’’ J.P.
the construction business. They packed workers were asked to sign agreements demanding more and more government
up fast enough, infact, as fast as they ar- that allowed their work visas to be can- action to protect locals from unemploy-
rived. I saw them leaving town with their celled at any moment. ment.
suitcases and not much more,’’ said the The government’s policy of protect-
real estate agent. ing local-residents seems to have taken Xenophobic arguments
According to Ng Sik Yiu, represent- on a life of its own whereby as companies
ative of the Liberal Trade Union of Gam- are stressed by public policies and poli- A Hong Kong born but Macau based
ing and Construction Industries, some cy makers are pressed by social groups non-permanent resident working for the
business can continue to grow.’’
Another sceptical entertainment
industry emploee wrotew— ith refer -
ence to the popular reality TV show
“Survivor’’to— colleagues: ‘Survivor
Cotai: Who will be the next survivor
to vote himself off the reclaimed is-
land? And who will remain to play the
politics of socio-communo-capitalism
alongside Sheldon Adelson and Hu
Jintao? Tune in daily...’.
As the axe fell daily throughout
the month the government’s public
back patting over more jobs for locals
appeared as a smoke screen to disgrun-
tled foreign workers who can’t recon-
cile the fact that local’s don’t possess
the skills required for thousands of
the jobs which need to be done.
Now, the big question on every-
one’s lips is, where will Asia’s new
E
N
mega-destination end up?
H
I S
I
L
A
pack your bags
/
Q
P
A
: E His story is all too familiar. A
T
O
O construction worker who has lived in
H
P
december 2008
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