News

The Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) released survey results of Manpower Needs and Wages for the fourth quarter of 2012. Survey coverage comprised Wholesale & Retail Trade; Transport, Storage & Communications; Security Activities and Public Sewage & Refuse Disposal Activities, excluding own-account workers. At the end of the fourth quarter of 2012, Wholesale & Retail Trade had 36,357 employees, up by 10.3% year-on-year, with 23,346 working in Retail trade. Average earnings (excluding bonuses and allowances) of full-time employees rose by 7.0% year-on-year to MOP10,880 in December 2012, with Sales representatives and Salespersons earning MOP12,100 and MOP10,230 respectively in average. Transport, Storage & Communications took on 8,606 employees, up by 6.1% year-on-year. In December, average earnings of full-time employees increased by 5.8% year-on-year to MOP17,170. Drivers of passenger/cargo transport by land earned an average of MOP20,740. Security Activities had 5,149 employees, up by 7.7% year-on-year. The average earnings of full-time employees in December rose by 7.4% year-on-year to MOP8,980, with Security guards earning MOP8,600 in average. Public Sewage & Refuse Disposal Activities had 726 employees, up by 9.5% year-on-year. The average earnings of full-time employees in December increased by 6.7% year-on-year to MOP12,720. At the end of the fourth quarter of 2012, Wholesale & Retail Trade reported 4,238 vacancies, up by 101 year-on-year, of which 3,077 were in Retail trade. Security Activities had 948 vacancies, up by 110, while Transport, Storage & Communications offered 677 vacant posts. In terms of recruitment prerequisites, the majority of vacancies in Wholesale & Retail Trade (52.0%) and Transport, Storage & Communications (68.2%) did not require working experience. Regarding educational attainment, 79.6% of the vacancies in Security Activities and 59.0% in Wholesale & Retail Trade required junior secondary education or lower, 45.4% of those in Public Sewage & Refuse Disposal Activities required senior secondary education or higher, and 33.4% of those in Transport, Storage & Communications required tertiary education. Besides Cantonese, Mandarin (66.8%) and English (43.0%) were more preferable language skill in Wholesale & Retail Trade, while 40.9% of those in Transport, Storage & Communications required English. In the fourth quarter of 2012, the employee turnover rate (7.3%) and the employee recruitment rate (8.5%) of Security Activities decreased by 5.5 and 3.8 percentage points year-on-year, and the job vacancy rate rose by 0.7 percentage points to 15.8%, indicating that the outflow of human resources showed improvement but many of the vacancies were unoccupied still.
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To celebrate the 15th anniversary of 'Consumer Arbitration Centre', a carnival will be held by Consumer Council this Saturday from 3PM to 5PM at the leisure area on Rua Quatro do Bairro Iao Hon. In order to promote the Regulations and services of 'Consumer Arbitration Centre' to the public, Consumer Council holds several carnivals in different local communities on Saturdays in March. Two carnivals have already been held at Vasco da Gama Garden and Largo de Camões in Taipa in the past two weeks. Participants learnt about consumer rights and services of the Arbitration Centre through various on-site games. Consumer Council will hold another carnival on 16th March at the leisure area on Rua Quatro do Bairro Iao Hon from 3PM to 5PM. On-site quiz games, booth games and information about the Arbitration Centre will be exhibited during the event. For inquiry, please call 8988-9315.
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The Monetary Authority of Macao announced today that the preliminary estimate of Macao SAR's foreign exchange reserves amounted to MOP132.6 billion (USD16.60 billion) at the end of February 2013. The reserves fell by 3.2% from the revised value of MOP137.0 billion (USD17.15 billion) for the previous month. When compared with a year earlier, the reserves increased by MOP5.9 billion or 4.7%. Macao SAR's foreign exchange reserves at end-February 2013 represented 17 times the currency in circulation or 135.8% of Pataca M2 at end-January 2013. The trade-weighted effective exchange rate index for the pataca, a gauge of the domestic currency's exchange rates against the currencies of Macao's major trading partners, rose by 0.44 points month-to-month and 0.73 points year-on-year to 97.36 in February 2013. For enquiry, please contact:
Research and Statistics Department, Monetary Authority of Macao (Tel: 83952532; Fax: 28353042)
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Invited by ASEAN Retail-Chains & Franchise Federation (ARFF), a business delegation led by Ms. Echo Chan, Executive Director of Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM), including representatives from Macau Chain Stores & Franchise Association and the Association of Advertising Agents of Macau (organiser and co-ordinator of "Macao Franchise Expo 2013") went to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia to participate in the "ASEAN Franchise Expo & Symposium 2013"(AFES 2013) from 7-9 March 2013. The objectives of the trip was as to foster exchanges and co-operation with franchise and retail chain industries of the ASEAN region, as well as promoting the upcoming "Macao Franchise Expo 2013"(2013MFE). Organised by the Ministry of Domestic Trade, Co-operatives and Consumerism of Malaysia (KPDNKK) and ASEAN Retail-Chains & Franchise Federation (ARFF) and supported by Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE), the "ASEAN Franchise Expo & Symposium 2013" was held from 8 to 10 March at Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre. There were a total of 80 booths set up in the exhibition. Besides local Malaysian brands, enterprises and associations including those from mainland China, Australia, Indonesia Japan, and Singapore took part representing food and beverage, retail, beauty products, education, and information technology sectors to name a few participated in AFES 2013. The opening ceremony of AFES 2013 was presided by Dato' Sri Ismail Sabri Bin Yaakob, Minister of Domestic Trade, Co-operatives and Consumerism, and representatives from various ASEAN countries. During the visit to Macao Pavilion at the exhibition, Ms. Echo Chan, Executive Director of IPIM introduced the current Macau trade and investment environment and activities organised by IPIM to Dato' Ismail Sabri, including 2013 MFE to be held from 12 to 14 July, the Macao International Environmental Co-operation Forum & Exhibition (MIECF) and Macao International Trade And Investment Fair (MIF). ARFF, the AFES 2013 organiser, expressed interest in participating in 2013MFE to promote brand co-operation opportunities for its member companies. Some exhibitors from food and beverage, food manufacturing, information technology, healthcare and beauty industries wished to make use of Macao and the MFE exhibition platform to explore the mainland China market. In addition, the Macao delegation attended the "ASEAN Outstanding Business Award 2013"and exchanged information and made connections with representatives from Malaysian franchise and retail chain industries. The Macau delegation also paid courtesy visits to Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE), Malaysian Franchise Association (MFA) and Malaysian Retailer-Chains Association (MRCA), during which Ms. Echo Chan gave a presentation on collaboration between Malaysia and Macao, trade, the business and economic development of Macao, as well as tax and CEPA incentive arrangements. Ms. Chan also encouraged Malaysian enterprises to take part in exhibitions in Macau, and utilise the Macao regional business platform as a gateway for Malaysian brands to open up business opportunities in mainland China and Portuguese-speaking countries. Mr. Tim Sio, Vice Director-General of the Macau Chain Stores & Franchise Association expressed his desire to search for suitable partners in Malaysia, hence strengthening collaboration between Malaysia and Macao. Mr. Osborn Lo, Vice Director-General of the Association of Advertising Agents of Macau hoped to gain information and a deeper understanding on the Malaysian franchise industry, to improve future co-operation opportunities through stronger ties with ASEAN enterprises. Organised by the Malaysian Franchise Association (MFA) and Malaysian Retailer-Chains Association (MRCA), the delegation also conducted site visits to several renowned brands including Bonia (Leather bag and shoes), Tutti Frutti (Frozen yogurt) and Zell-V (Healthcare products), in order to gain a deeper understanding of Malaysian franchise and retail chain operation and management.
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The Chief Executive, Mr Chui Sai On, is scheduled to leave for Beijing on 16 March to attend the closing ceremony of the 12th National People's Congress on 17 March. The Chief-of-Cabinet of the Office of the Chief Executive, Mr Tam Chun Weng, the Secretary-General of the Executive Council, Ms O Lam and the Director of the Government Information Bureau, Mr Chan Chi Ping will take part in the visit. Mr Chui and his delegation will return Macao on 19 March. The Secretary for Economy and Finance, Mr Tam Pak Yuen, will be Acting Chief Executive while Mr Chui is away.
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Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO) holds spring banquets today and tomorrow in Taiwan for Macau tourism promotion and exchange with local travel trade. MGTO hosts the local trade and media representatives for spring banquets in Taipei and Taichung on February 14 and 15 consecutively. Exchange and networking are enhanced during the banquets, where the delegation takes the opportunity to present Macau's latest tourism development and products, aiming to extend the length of Taiwanese visitors' stay in Macau. MGTO Director Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes, Head of Macau Economic and Cultural Office in Taiwan, China, Nadia Leong Kit Chi and Head of Destination Marketing Department of MGTO, Betty Fok attend the above functions. Fernandes expressed that Taiwan has always ranked as the third largest tourist market for Macau. Taiwanese visitor arrivals to Macau surpassed 1,070,000 last year though the number dropped in comparison with 2011. It was nonetheless delightful to see the number of Taiwanese visitors staying overnight in Macau continuously growing each year and marking a rise of 2.6% in 2012. The proportion of Taiwanese visitors to overall overnight-stay visitors increased year-on-year by 5% in 2012, suggesting that Macau has gradually transformed from a transit station into a tourist destination in the Taiwanese's perspective, a goal MGTO has long strived to reach. According to the statistics provided by Statistics and Census Bureau, the number of Taiwanese overnight-stay visitors in Macau hit 414,718 in 2012, a year-on-year growth of 2.6%. The average length of Taiwanese visitors' stay was 1.76 night. Hotel overnight guests from Taiwan reached 362,707, of which 73.7% checked-in at 5-Star hotels. The latest provisional figures show that the number of Taiwanese visitors staying overnight in Macau maintained a growing trend in the first two months of 2013, a period-on-period escalation of 5.0%. The remarkable percentage once again proves that Taiwan is a market worth unremitting dedication and still demonstrating great potential for development. This year marks the upcoming 25th Macau International Fireworks Display Contest and the 60th Macau Grand Prix. MGTO will commingle Macau festivities, cultural attractions and modern tourist facilities together, promoting diversely-themed tours to enchant visitors of different nationalities to Macau at different times of the year so that they can experience Macau's composite aroma of East and West, trendy and antique. With the strategic positioning of Macau's development as a World Centre of Tourism and Leisure, MGTO will continue its promotional theme "Touching Moments･Experience Macau". With the highlighted concept of "365 days a year, every day is good to visit Macau", MGTO encourages every consumer in Macau to embrace his/her unique touching moments. The office will also enhance its cooperation with airlines and travel agencies in the Taiwan market, suggesting fun ways of exploring Macau and various itineraries including cultural, festive and shopping routes tailor-made for different visitor categories such as "family visitor", "office worker", "female segment", "newlywed" and "silver peer" so that they can explore Macau at any time the way they like. As the hub of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau tourism region, Macau will continue to widen and deepen its collaboration with neighboring regional destinations and its promotion of multi-destination itinerary products this year. In active pursuit of extending the length of visitors' stay in Macau, MGTO will focus on six work highlights this year as follows: 1. Sum up planning and research, deepen tourism and leisure system; 2. Optimize industry management and training, actively promote quality tourism; 3. Develop cultural tourism products, promote events and festivals; 4. Support community tourism, strengthen public communication; 5. Innovate promotional techniques, explore new markets; 6. Participate in international organizations, strengthen regional cooperation. In terms of community tourism, MGTO will initiate the "Development Plan for Community Tourism", a scheme to develop community tourism in cooperation with local associations. The highlights include guidebook publication, cultural festivals and cultivation of travel information systems. The scheme enables visitors to explore different districts in Macau and encounter extraordinary features of Macau. In addition, MGTO has launched the Beta (trial) version of MGTO's brand-new website (http://beta.macautourism.gov.mo/index.php?lang=en) and will introduce more Smartphone travel applications to facilitate visitors' convenient access to extensive travel tips. Currently there are 5 airline companies which operate flights between Macau and Taiwan, together providing over 126 direct flights weekly from Taipei, Taichung and Kaohsiung to Macau. The flight service is frequent and convenient for visitors.
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IFT Tourism Research Centre (ITRC) released the inaugural report on its latest major research project - the Macao Human Resource Monitoring Survey (MHRM). The MHRM Survey aims to fill the gap in knowledge of information of the Macao's labor force such as employees' level of job satisfaction, job stress, intention-to-quit and organisational loyalty measures, as well as satisfaction with a host of occupational and work conditions such as benefits, opportunities for advancement, inter-relationships at work, etc. with focuses on the tourism, hospitality and gaming industries. Information are gathered and analysed for industry leaders and the general public to reply on in regard to understanding issues surrounding the labor force. Findings of the MHRM Survey will be released twice a year. The first issue of MHRM report can be requested at this link http://www.ift.edu.mo/itrc/MHRM.html For any enquiry, please email to iftpr@ift.edu.mo
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In order to raise the attention of the public about the Regulations of 'Consumer Arbitration Centre', Consumer Council is holding an online quiz game that will end on 18th March. Many entries have been received and residents are welcome to participate. To celebrate the 15th anniversary of the establishment of 'Consumer Arbitration Centre' and 'World Consumer Rights Day' on 15th March, Consumer Council organizes carnivals and an online quiz to promote the services of the Arbitration Centre. The first two carnivals were held on 2nd and 9th Mach respectively, and the mentioned online quiz was launched on 4th March. Over 800 entries have been received since the quiz was launched. Participants who have correct answers to 20 random questions will be entitled to a draw, 40 winners will be drawn and awarded with MOP500 each. The Council indicates that the online quiz game will end at 5PM on 18th March. Interested residents may visit the Council's website (www.consumer.gov.mo) to participate in the game. For inquiry, please call 8988-9315.
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Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that visitor arrivals in package tours increased by 18.3% year-on-year to 757,190 in January 2013. Package tour visitors mainly came from Mainland China (562,722), with 250,029 coming from Guangdong Province, followed by those from Taiwan, China (55,473); the Republic of Korea (42,469) and Hong Kong (30,763). Macao residents travelling outbound using services of travel agencies increased by 18.9% year-on-year to 112,893 in January 2013, of which 40,308 travelled in package tours. The main destinations were Mainland China (64,808), accounting for 57.4% of the total, while Hong Kong and Taiwan, China took up 18.3% and 11.2% respectively. There were 100 hotels and guesthouses operating at the end of January 2013, providing 26,027 rooms, up by 16.5% year-on-year; guest rooms of 5-star hotels accounted for 63.8% of the total. In January 2013, the hotels and guesthouses received 832,543 guests, up by 19.1% year-on-year, with the majority coming from Mainland China (60.3% of total) and Hong Kong (14.5%). The average length of stay of guests decreased by 0.13 night year-on-year to 1.4 nights. Meanwhile, the average occupancy rate of hotels and guesthouses stood at 82.9%, up by 3.8 percentage points year-on-year, with 5-star hotels reaching 84.9%. In January 2013, visitor-guests took up 70.1% of the total number of overnight visitors, higher than the 59.1% in January 2012.
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Consumer Council released its latest specific price survey on shampoos and shower gels. Survey result showed that price differences from about 9 percent to the highest 51 percent were recorded for the same brand of product sold at different outlets, various price changes were also observed in many shampoo brands and certain shower gels recorded different levels of price decreases. Consumer Council collected prices of 10 brands of shampoo and shower gel from 32 retail outlets (including supermarkets and drugstores) on 11th March. In comparison with the data from January's survey, the lowest price discrepancy recorded was only 8.62 percent, the greatest price difference was observed in 'Dove damage therapy intensive repair shampoo/700ml', which was sold at $39.7 to $59.9, with a difference of over $20.0 or 50.88 percent. Only 1 out of the 10 surveyed items recorded no change in price in the current survey and obvious price changes were recorded in 'Rejoice Shampoo/1000ml', which observed price differences of less than 10 percent in 18 retail spots. For shower gel, prices of 'LUX Body Wash/1L' had been decreased by about 10 percent in 4 retail spots. The remaining items recorded only minimal price changes. Consumer Council indicates that selling prices of the same product are found to vary in different branches under the same supermarket chain stores. Consumers are advised to check with the data provided by the Council on its website (www.consumer.gov.mo) and its 'Supermarket price information platform' iPhone and Android apps. For enquiry, please call 8988 9315.
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