Almost half of Macao’s residents want cash as well as consumption vouchers in the next round of the government’s MOP 10 billion financial support plan, a new survey has indicated.
The survey, which was carried out by the Collective Wisdom Policy Centre think-tank, also found that 42 per cent said they wanted the financial support plan to be allocated in just cash.
The second MOP 10 billion financial support plan will be launched later this year, aiming to lessen the adverse impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the local economy.
The findings also showed that 40 per cent of the respondents said that they wanted the financial support plan to include both childcare assistance and subsidies for household expenses.
The survey was conducted last month when members of the think tank collected 1,331 questionnaires from local residents aged 18 and over both on- and offline.
According to the findings, over 80 per cent of the respondents said that their financial situation has deteriorated since last year due to the Covid-19 pandemic, with those working in the gaming, hotel and catering sectors and clerical occupations having been affected the most.
At the same time, they are facing “multiple” pressures, such as financial problems in taking care of their children and parents, mortgage and car loan payments, worrying about their jobs, being fired, or being asked to take unpaid or half-paid leave.
The findings show that about 48 per cent of the respondents said that they have observed “significant” price increases since the launch of the third round of the government’s electronic consumption benefits scheme on 1 June, while 41 per cent reported a “slight” increase in prices.
According to the findings, 64 per cent of the residents surveyed said that they considered the new round of the government’s “monetary support plan for employees, self-employed professionals and business operators” to be the most efficient financial support measure, while 24 per cent said that the enhancement of the government’s “subsidised training plan” was effective. Some 19 per cent of the respondents said they supported the government’s plan to launch its Citywide Consumption Carnival.
Ngan Iek Hang, a lawmaker and vice president of the think tank, urged the government to expand the scope of benefits, so as to provide economic assistance to relieve locals’ financial burden and support civil society. He also urged the government to strengthen the monitoring of price fluctuations to safeguard consumers’ rights and interests, The Macau Post Daily reported.
In order to rebuild local residents’ confidence, Ngan urged the government to actively attract more tourists, while accelerating the development of emerging industries, so as to support the city’s tourism recovery and promote Macao’s appropriate economic diversification.
