Over 1,000 protestors from about 15 groups took the streets of Macau Thursday to voice out various concerns, demanding better working and living conditions as well as a reform of the political system.
This year’s Labor Day march demonstrated a wider variety of concerns and larger participation of casino workers. While gaming industry employees united to urge for a full smoking ban in casinos and better salaries, youth groups appealed for a reshaping of the living space for residents.
Some protestors shout specific slogans in Mandarin: “restrict the individual visit scheme” and “[we] refuse second-hand smoking.”
Like in previous years, livelihood issues such as affordable housing, public transportation, healthcare, education, and public facilities continued to be stressed in the annual march.
Meanwhile, demonstrators held banners and shouted slogans appealing for “a transparent and accountable government.”
Several grassroots labor groups also called for “a competent candidate to step up,” for the next election of Chief Executive and demand universal suffrage for both the Chief Executive and the Legislative Assembly elections.
Moreover, a group of parents petitioned to the government to grant residency for their mainland-born adult children.
A motorcade of 31 cars and nine motorcycles was also organized by four casino workers groups under the Macau Federation of Trade Unions (FOAM) to protest against the importation of foreign labor, while demanding a fair promotion system.
The Public Security Police (PSP) stated that the march proceeded in an orderly manner. A total of 200 police agents were dispatched for the May day march.(macaunews/macaudailytimes)
