HK workers fall foul of Macau labour laws

Hundreds of Hong Kong construction workers have been cheated into working illegally in Macau, a group of Hong Kong labourers said yesterday.

The 13 labourers said they had signed contracts in Hong Kong to work on the construction of a casino in Macau where, as technical instructors, they could work for 45 days without applying for a work permit.

At the end of the permit-free period, the workers said they were assured, they could continue to work legally and have their contracts renewed. But they said they were fired this month for no reason and sought compensation through Macau's Labour Affairs Bureau.

Bureau officials said they had been illegal workers and could face charges. In Macau, an illegal labourer can be fined up to 20,000 patacas.

'We would not have sought help at the labour bureau had we come to Macau to work illegally,' one of the workers said.

More than 1,000 people are working on the casino's construction site. The workers said most of these were Hongkongers over-staying the permit-free period without knowing it was illegal.