Pereira Coutinho hands in new trade union bill

Local lawmaker Jose Pereira Coutinho yesterday handed a new trade union bill proposal to the Legislative Assembly as an intent to fill a gap in Macau's legal system.
A total of 39 articles divided into 5 chapters were presented by the lawmaker. Coutinho also said he believes it will regulate article 27 of the Macau Basic Law.
“During the last three years we have presented it twice, and I don't think it's [asking] too much. Now seams to be just the right time because since January, when the new labour relations law was enforced, a multiple number of [work] situations [has] happened and workers have tried to reach an agreement in order to safeguard their rights, namely the right to enjoy 10 official holidays. In most of the situations they don't dare to challenge the rules because they are afraid to loose their jobs,” he said.
“Last time with the diploma that covered the problem with collective negotiation, we had eight votes in favour,” Coutinho said, adding that “the fundamental fact is the government's responsibility through lawmakers, who have the social responsibility, to understand the weaker link in the labour relationship.”
Pereira Coutinho also defends in the bill a mixed system for workers to have both an internal and external representation and the setting up of social unions. The proposal, he argued, “allows employees to have a strong defence in making sure they are rightfully represented in their own departmental structures as well as exercise their right to collective consult.”
“ The bill we presented describes the associations capacity for the future, as unions, can represent workers not only in courts but also in the public administration.”

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