Police officers to get pay rise next year

2011-11 -29
From: Macau Daily Times

Police officers will see their complementary benefits increase next year, in order to tackle the problem of human resources shortage
The secretary for Security Cheong Kuoc V announced yesterday that he will propose an increase next year to the police forces complementary benefits. During a debate in the Legislative Assembly (AL) the official also admitted that the immigration services are short of human resources and vowed to solve the problem in 2012.
We will consider improving the police forces working conditions. Next year, we will present a proposal to increase the additional benefits of public security forces. All military personnel will benefit from this increase, Cheong pledged.
The secretary said this measure is aimed at luring those experienced policemen to stay instead of retiring after the 36 years of duty. However, the government official failed to disclose how much he will propose the rise to be.
The current bonus was implemented in 2005, accounting for 50 percent of the salary index 100 (a total of around MOP 3,000 per month). Military forces from the public security force (PSP), the customs services, the Macau prison personnel and the fire department are entitled to get this additional payment every month if they do not miss work, enjoy annual leave during the said month or were absent for disciplinary reasons.
The secretary announced these measures in response to lawmakers questions, who voiced several concerns over the lack of human resources in the police force, mainly in the immigration services.
They said that with the stunning increase of visitations in recent years, the services are failing to respond to the tourists and residents needs.
Lawmaker Angela Leong On Kei stressed that the border gate is an open window of Macau to the outside world. She said that the facilities are facing difficulties due to the increase of tourists and the police staff are under pressure, urging that the government allocate civilian personnel to the service in order to alleviate the workload of the front-line military staff.
Dominic Sio Wai Chi also called on the government to increase the police wages in order to attract more military people to join the forces.
The secretary pointed out that 108 civilian employees are being recruited to the immigration services and another 108 will be hired next year. In addition, he continued, More than 1,000 policemen were allocated to work in these services. Nonetheless, he acknowledged that there is shortage of human resources in the border gates.
There is shortage of human resources in the immigration services. Today, we have over 300 vacancies yet to be filled. The services will gradually recruit more people. We have two annual courses for trainees and we will launch two job recruitments activities each year. These new workers will be sent to work in the front line, he said.
Cheong also added that every year authorities lose around 100 people that choose to retire, to work in the private sector, or look for a higher position in the Public Administration, while some are dismissed due to disciplinary reasons.

E-channel for safe-conducts

Ho Ion Sang asked if the Judiciary Police (PJ) would also get a salary raise. A by-law from 2005 also spells out the same additional payment for this police force. But Cheong only mentioned raises for military officers and he did not make clear if the PJ would also see their wages go up next year.
Ho stressed that if the PJ did not receive the same increase, it would create an unfair situation. He also questioned why this police force is not entitled to receive a food subsidy, since they also work 60 to 70 hours a week sometimes.
The secretary explained that the food subsidy was created before the handover for the PSP and the fire departments officers that have to work round-the-clock in some instances.
Furthermore, Cheong announced the creation in the Gongbei border gate of a special e-channel for holders of the Chinese safe-conduct pass. I believe that with the implementation of this service we need to purchase machines and printers from mainland China, he said.
Most tourists are from China, so if we solve this issue the biggest problem is tackled, the secretary pointed out.
However, several lawmakers again expressed concerns over the problems of labour shortage within the police forces. Dominic Sio reiterated that Macaus border gates have many problems handling the huge number of visitors. Aside from personnel, he urged the government to increase the number of e-channels for students, workers and holders of Chinese safe-conduct passes.
Joseacute Chui Sai Peng warned that the training of new policemen takes time and asked if the Administration is ready to face the new needs that will come along with the new reclamation projects, affordable housing and the campus of the University of Macau in Hengqin Island.
But Cheongs justifications didnt convince Chan Meng Kam, who in fact criticised the growth in the number of officers and asked if such increase was necessary.
He also questioned the big budget allocated for the security area of MOP 4.5 billion for next year.
Cheong explained that the high budget is due to the introduction of high technologies in the police work. Apart from the acquisition of these technologies, we have to pay expenses for repairing and maintenance, he added.
At the border gates, many tourists arrive from China through the e-channels and we need technicians to be there. With the construction of the Delta Bridge, we will also set up an immigration service in the Macau entry point and we have to strengthen the staff of immigration services, customs, fire department, etc, Cheong concluded.

Copyright Macau Daily Times