The Macau Civil Servants’ Association (ATFPM) has raised concerns over the hiring process for candidates who passed the training for second-class inspectors at the Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau (DICJ).
In a recent letter sent to the Secretary for Economy and Finance, Ng Wai Han, the association urged the gaming regulator to initiate recruitment before the final examination list expires to fill persistent staffing gaps.
According to the association, the list of qualified candidates was officially approved in February 2025, leaving less than five months before its validity period runs out. Candidates completed a selection process lasting over two years, which included six months of intensive classroom and practical training. They now face the risk of seeing the list expire without being offered employment.
The association highlighted that during a Legislative Assembly session in 2023, the DICJ acknowledged structural manpower shortages and opened 120 training slots. Beyond the initial 60 positions filled, the bureau remains short of 35 inspectors needed for shift duties. Leaving these qualified candidates unhired directly contradicts the government’s original workforce planning while operational demand remains high.
Failing to recruit from the list would also result in a waste of public funds already invested in the selection and training process, the letter noted. Furthermore, launching a new recruitment drive would take at least two years, exacerbating staffing pressures caused by turnover. All 120 candidates successfully completed the internship with comparable scores and professional qualifications, making them ready for immediate deployment.
The association added that candidates listed in the Official Gazette of the Macao Special Administrative Region face unique employment challenges in the private sector. Reluctant to invest in staff who might leave for public service at short notice, prospective employers are hesitant to hire them, leaving the candidates in prolonged economic uncertainty.
Citing social equity, administrative efficiency, and the need to retain local talent, the association appealed to the Secretary for Economy and Finance to resolve the issue and complete the recruitment process before the eligibility list expires.
