An MoU has been signed between Macau and Burma for the former Portuguese colony to take in 5,000 Burmese migrant workers per year.

The Myanmar Overseas Employment Agency Association and its Macanese counterpart on Friday signed the MoU at Rangoon’s Yuzana Hotel. In addition to contracting Burmese workers, the non-binding contract lays a provision for Macanese officials to resolve labour disputes and issues involving migrants from Burma.

Head of the Macau Overseas Employment Agency Association, Kuong Kao, said his agency is looking to recruit Burmese workers as soon as possible.

“Macau is to take in about 5,000 Burmese workers, mainly for the service industry and construction,” he said.

Chairman of Myanmar Overseas Employment Agency Federation, Min Hlaing, said, “The lowest salary in Macau is US$750 per month and it is potentially a strong overseas labor market for Burmese workers.”

There are currently 160,000 foreign workers in Macau, approximately 100,000 of whom hail from mainland China. The majority of the other 60,000 are from Vietnam.

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