Overseas vs Local Ready Foreign Workers (Part 2)

Previously, we discussed why ready-available local foreign workers tend to get pregnant on the job, face job instability, and switch employers frequently in Macau.

What you may not know is that Filipinos entering Macau on tourist visas are required to present recommendation letters from their family and relatives in Macau to pass immigration. This is why their likelihood of getting pregnant on the job is much higher. Most of them live out (non-live-in), making it easy for them to get pregnant. Don't think that hiring live-in workers solves the problem — Macau employers can't possibly never give them days off.

As for Myanmar and Indonesia, they enter Macau on tourist visas to work, so they have no fear of consequences — essentially unregulated. Even Macau's employment centres can't manage them. As for Vietnam, I've never heard of Vietnamese workers getting pregnant on the job.

★ Job Stability and Risks

Regarding job stability and risks... I hear more about Vietnamese ready-available workers — because they've been in Macau longer and make up a large proportion of the foreign workforce, they tend to switch jobs more frequently and face more adjustment challenges. According to data as of October 2018, the total number of foreign workers exceeded 180,000, with the largest sources being mainland China (117,420), the Philippines (31,130), and Vietnam (15,066).

In my experience, some families and small-to-medium businesses do need to hire Vietnamese workers. For SMEs, mainland Chinese salaries are already quite high — Macau employers simply can't afford them. 8,000 MOP converts to a lot of RMB, and after deducting rent and utilities in Macau, there's little left. I'm not siding with the workers — the fact is that Macau's property prices and cost of living are truly staggering.

For foreign workers, many families needing infant or elderly care hire Vietnamese workers. But in my opinion... if you're hiring Vietnamese workers, overseas recruitment is the most suitable.

Ready-available Vietnamese workers in Macau are very demanding — they want high salaries, non-live-in arrangements, are on average over 45 years old, refuse to care for babies, and have all sorts of requirements.

★ Data Reference

As of October 2018, Macau foreign worker statistics:

Total foreign workers: Over 180,000
Mainland China: 117,420
Philippines: 31,130
Vietnam: 15,066

So the conclusion is: if you need to hire Vietnamese foreign workers, overseas recruitment is the most suitable choice to avoid the various problems associated with ready-available workers.

How to Reduce Risk — 3 Steps

Identify the nationality you need and whether overseas or ready-available sourcing fits your situation.

Weigh the stability risks — ready-available workers may switch jobs, demand high pay, or face pregnancy-on-the-job risk.

For Vietnamese hiring, prefer overseas recruitment to avoid the common problems of ready-available workers.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: Why do ready-available workers have higher pregnancy-on-the-job risk?
A: Filipinos entering on tourist visas need Macau family recommendation letters and mostly live out (non-live-in), making pregnancy more likely; employers can't avoid giving days off.

Q: Which nationalities have no consulate in Macau?
A: Indonesia and Myanmar have no consulate in Macau, so their workers mostly enter on tourist visas rather than proper foreign worker channels.

Q: How many foreign workers were in Macau as of October 2018?
A: Over 180,000 in total — Mainland China 117,420, Philippines 31,130, and Vietnam 15,066.

Ming

Sister Ming · HR Consultant

Having worked in employment agencies for several years, I've seen all sorts of strange experiences with hiring foreign workers in Macau. I want to record these stories so everyone can better understand Macau's foreign labour situation.