This English translation is for reference only. The Chinese version shall prevail in case of any inconsistencies.
Notice on Issuing the Interim Measures for Supporting the Employment of Macao Youth in the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin
All relevant departments:
The Interim Measures for Supporting the Employment of Macao Youth in the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqinhave been approved upon deliberation by the Executive Committee of the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin, and are hereby issued for implementation. Should any issues arise during implementation, please report them to the Livelihood Affairs Bureau of the Cooperation Zone.
Livelihood Affairs Bureau of the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin
December 31, 2024
Normative Document No. 5/2024 of the Livelihood Affairs Bureau
Interim Measures for Supporting the Employment of Macao Youth in the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin
Article 1.
Purpose of the Measures
In order to implement the Outline Development Plan for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and the Master Plan for the Construction of Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin, to support the employment of Macao youth in the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin (hereinafter referred to as the “Cooperation Zone”), and to encourage employers to employ Macao youth, these Measures are developed in accordance with the Regulations on Promoting the Development of the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin and other relevant laws and regulations, as well as taking into account the specific circumstances of the Cooperation Zone.
Article 2.
Definitions
For the purposes of these Measures, the following terms are defined as follows:
1. “Employers” refer to enterprises, individual economic organizations, non-enterprise private units, and other organizations that are legally registered in the Cooperation Zone, excluding the Executive Committee of the Cooperation Zone and its various working bodies and public institutions.
2. “Macao youth” refers to residents of the Macao Special Administrative Region (hereinafter referred to as “Macao”) between the ages of 18 and 45 (inclusive).
3. “Substantive operation” refers to enterprise operations that meet the requirements stipulated in the Rules for Determining Substantive Operations of Enterprises in the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin (Normative Document No. 2/2023 of the Executive Committee).
Article 3.
Scope of Applicability
These Measures shall apply to Macao youth who work in the Cooperation Zone, and employers that hire Macao youth. These Measures shall not apply to permanent staff or directly hired personnel of the Executive Committee of the Cooperation Zone, its working bodies, or public institutions managed with reference to the Civil Servant Law.
Article 4.
Eligibility Criteria
Macao youth or employers applying for subsidies or rewards under these Measures shall meet the following basic conditions:
1. Macao youth shall concurrently meet all the following conditions:
(1) The applicant shall possess one of the following: a) a post-secondary college diploma (including associate degrees, higher specialist diplomas, or equivalent qualifications) or a higher academic qualification; b) a vocational qualification certificate (including national vocational qualifications issued by competent national industry authorities, or overseas vocational qualifications recognized in the Zhuhai’s List of Recognized Overseas Professional Qualifications for Convenient Practice); or c) a vocational skills certificate (including skills certificates/cards issued by public departments in Macao that are included in the “First/Second List of Macao SAR Occupational Skill Certificates Recognized in Guangdong Province”; or vocational skill level certificates obtained through vocational skill level assessments conducted by social training and evaluation organizations registered with and announced by the Human Resources and Social Security Department of Guangdong Province);
(2) The applicant shall be employed solely by an employer within the Cooperation Zone; have entered into a legally compliant employment contract with that said employer for a fixed term of one year or more, or for a non-fixed term; and, during the period of employment in the Cooperation Zone, have no record of actual employment in Macao nor have made contributions under Macao’s mandatory social security system;
(3) The applicant shall have paid social insurance contributions consecutively for six months or more in the Cooperation Zone in accordance with relevant regulations;
(4) The applicant shall have their actual place of work and pay their individual income tax on wages and salaries within the Cooperation Zone; and not currently hold the position of shareholder (this restriction applies to shareholders in non-listed and non-publicly traded enterprises, but excludes the holding of stocks of listed or publicly traded enterprises acquired through open market operations or similar means), legal representative, or partner in any employer;
(5) The applicant shall have no criminal record.
2. Employers shall concurrently meet all the following conditions:
(1) The applicant shall conduct substantive operations in the Cooperation Zone; maintain operating premises within the Cooperation Zone with at least three square meters per employee; and, during the preceding tax year, have had at least 30% of its total employees paying social insurance contributions in the Cooperation Zone for six months or more. Employers registered in a shared office area without actual business premises in the Cooperation Zone are not eligible for application;
(2) The applicant shall comply with laws and regulations and not be included in the List of Enterprises with Abnormal Business Operations, the List of Enterprises with Serious Unlawful and Dishonest Acts, or the List of Dishonest Judgment Debtors at the time of applying for subsidies or rewards.
Article 5.
Employment Subsidy
Macao youth who meet the eligibility criteria set out in Clause 1 of Article 4 and are employed by employers that meet the eligibility criteria set out in Clause 2 of Article 4 of these Measures may be granted an employment subsidy of RMB 4,000 per person per month, for a period not exceeding 36 months.
Article 6.
Engagement Reward
Employers that meet the eligibility criteria set out in Clause 2 of Article 4 of these Measures and hire Macao youth who meet the eligibility criteria in Clause 1 of Article 4 of these Measures may apply for and receive an engagement reward of RMB 1,000 per person per month, with the reward period for each Macao youth not exceeding 36 months.
Employers who hire a cumulative total of 30 or more eligible Macao youth within the same year may, in addition to the engagement reward, apply for a one-time supplementary reward of RMB 200,000. The total amount of engagement and supplementary rewards received by the same employer under these Measures shall not exceed RMB 1.5 million per year.
Article 7.
Social Insurance Subsidy
Employers that meet the eligibility criteria set out in Clause 2 of Article 4 and employ Macao youth who meet the criteria in Clause 1 of Article 4 of these Measures may apply for a subsidy equal to the employer’s share of social insurance premiums paid for the Macao youth, including urban employees’ basic endowment, medical (including maternity), unemployment, and work-related injury insurance. The subsidy period for each Macao youth shall not exceed 36 months.
Article 8.
Vocational Skill Enhancement Subsidy
Macao youth employed in the Cooperation Zone who meet the criteria set out in Items (2), (3), (4), and (5) of Clause 1 of Article 4 and enhance their vocational skills by participating in vocational skill level assessments conducted by social training and evaluation organizations registered with and published by the Human Resources and Social Security Department of Guangdong Province, thereby obtaining a corresponding certificate listed in the Standard Directory of Vocational Skills Training Subsidy (Guidance) in Guangdong Province, may apply for a one-time subsidy from the Cooperation Zone equal to 30% of the calculated base outlined in the relevant policy documents of Guangdong Province.
The policy documents determining the calculation base for the 30% one-time subsidy include the Notice on Issuing the Measures for the Administration of Vocational Skills Training Subsidy in Guangdong Province Jointly Issued by the Human Resources and Social Security Department and the Department of Finance of Guangdong Province(Regulation No. 13 [2023]), and any subsequent new documents issued.
Article 9.
Application Time
Employment subsidies, engagement rewards, and social insurance subsidies shall, in principle, be applied for collectively by employers on a quarterly basis, with each application covering the subsidies or rewards for the preceding quarter.
The final application deadline may be extended to the quarter immediately following the expiry date of these Measures; however, the calculation period for eligibility for subsidies or rewards shall end on the expiry date of these Measures. The one-time supplementary engagement reward shall be applied for during the first quarter of each year, based on the number of Macao youth for whom the employer successfully received engagement rewards in the preceding year.
The the vocational skill enhancement subsidy shall be applied by the individual within 12 months from the date of certificate issuance.
Article 10.
Application Materials
Applications for employment subsidies, engagement rewards, and social insurance subsidies shall include the following documents:
1. Subsidy (reward) application form;
2. Employer’s list of employed Macao youth;
3. Macao youth’s Mainland Travel Permit for Hong Kong and Macao Residents, or Residence Permit for Hong Kong and Macao Residents, and Macao SAR Resident Identity Card;
4. Mainland bank account information (of employers and individuals);
5. Certification materials of Macao youth’s academic qualifications (degree) or vocational qualification certificate; for qualifications obtained outside of the Chinese mainland, the Certificate of Degree/Diploma Accreditation issued by the Chinese Service Center for Scholarly Exchange (CSCSE) must also be provided;
6. Proof of sole employment within the Cooperation Zone, including the employment contract, proof of individual income tax payment on wages and salaries, attendance records or related statements, and contribution records for Macao’s mandatory social security system. If the employer is a labor dispatch agency, the labor dispatch agreement and proof of employment issued by the actual employer must also be provided. All materials must cover the same period as the relevant subsidy or reward;
7. Macao Certificate of Criminal Record (valid for 90 days);
8. Employer’s business license or Unified Social Credit Code Certificate, and the legal representative’s (responsible person’s) identity document; If the person handling the application is not the legal representative, their identity document and a power of attorney from the employer shall also be provided;
9. Employer’s Commitment Form for the Self-assessment of Substantive Operations, along with supporting documents, including proof of ownership or a lease agreement for the operating premises, a list of employees, tax payment receipts or contracts and invoices evidencing normal business operations within the Cooperation Zone for the preceding three months, a description of the organizational structure, and financial statements.
Employers applying for employment subsidies, engagement rewards, and social insurance subsidies at the same time do not need to submit duplicate materials. Following a successful initial application, if the Macao youth remains with the same employer and maintains continuous social insurance contributions, the required materials for subsequent applications may be simplified upon approval by the Livelihood Affairs Bureau of the Cooperation Zone.
Applications for vocational skill enhancement subsidies shall include the following documents:
1. Subsidy application form;
2. Macao youth’s Mainland Travel Permit for Hong Kong and Macao Residents or Residence Permit for Hong Kong and Macao Residents, and Macao SAR Resident Identity Card;
3. Individual bank account information in the Chinese mainland;
4. Proof of sole employment within the Cooperation Zone, including the employment contract, proof of individual income tax payment on wages and salaries, attendance records or related statements, and contribution records for Macao’s mandatory social security system. If the employer is a labor dispatch agency, the labor dispatch agreement and proof of employment issued by the actual employer must also be provided;
5. Macao Certificate of Criminal Record (valid for 90 days);
6. The vocational skill level certificates obtained.
For Macao youth or employers applying for subsidies or reward funds under these Measures, social insurance contributions will be verified via the human resources and social security information system; employer compliance will generally be verified via the “Credit China” system. Generally, these verification documents does not need to be submitted by the applicants.
Article 11.
Application Procedures
The application procedures for employment subsidies, engagement rewards, and social insurance subsidies are as follows:
1. Submission of Application Materials. Employment subsidies, engagement rewards, and social insurance subsidies shall, in principle, be applied for by employers in a unified manner to the Livelihood Affairs Bureau of the Cooperation Zone. Employment subsidies may also be applied for by individuals on a quarterly basis as per the actual situation. Applications for vocational skill enhancement subsidies shall be submitted by individuals directly to the Livelihood Affairs Bureau of the Cooperation Zone. Required proof documents may be submitted as photocopies or verifiable electronic records. If deemed necessary, the applicant may be required to submit original documents or provide additional supporting materials.
2. Review. The Livelihood Affairs Bureau of the Cooperation Zone is responsible for the review of the application materials. If necessary, on-site verification may be conducted.
3. Public Announcement. Upon review and confirmation that the applicant meets the conditions stipulated in these Measures, the list of employers and Macao youth eligible for subsidies or rewards will be publicly announced on the Executive Committee’s government website for a period of no less than five working days.
4. Fund Disbursement. If no objections are raised during the public announcement period or if objections are found to be unsubstantiated upon investigation, the Livelihood Affairs Bureau of the Cooperation Zone will disburse the corresponding subsidies or reward funds to the mainland bank account provided by the applicant in accordance with the regulations.
Article 12.
Special Provisions
Before the effective date of these Measures, the subsidies or rewards for Macao youth who have been employed by the same employer in the Cooperation Zone for at least six consecutive months shall be applied for by the said Macao youth’s respective employers in a unified manner, in accordance with these Measures, starting from the month these Measures’ entry into force.
For Macao youth who have been employed by the same employer in the Cooperation Zone for less than six consecutive months before the effective date of these Measures, if the said Macao youth continue to be employed for a cumulative total of six consecutive months after the effective date, the subsidies or rewards shall also be applied for by their employer in a unified manner, in accordance with these Measures, starting from the month these Measures’ entry into force.
For Macao youth who start employment in the Cooperation Zone after the effective date of these Measures and are continuously employed by the same employer in the Cooperation Zone for a cumulative total of six consecutive months, their initial subsidies or rewards shall be applied for by their employer in a unified manner, in accordance with these Measures, starting from the first month of the said Macao youth’s employment in the Cooperation Zone.
If a Macao youth changes employers during the validity period of these Measures, they shall again satisfy the conditions stipulated in Article 4 in order to remain eligible for the subsidies or rewards. Periods during which social insurance are in arrears shall not be counted toward the subsidy period, and no employment subsidies, engagement rewards, or social insurance subsidies shall be provided for the said periods.
Certificates of the same vocational skill level shall only be used only once for the purpose of applying for subsidies.
Article 13.
Accountability
Employers and individuals shall be responsible for the authenticity and legality of their application materials. Those who provide false materials to fraudulently obtain subsidies or rewards shall be held legally liable in accordance with the law.
Article 14.
Legal Liability
The Livelihood Affairs Bureau of the Cooperation Zone shall reject applications from employers or individuals who are found to have any of the following circumstances during the application process. Where subsidies or rewards have already been disbursed, a written decision will be issued requiring the return of the funds within a specified period. As follows:
1. Providing false application materials in an attempt to fraudulently obtain subsidies or reward funds;
2. Other circumstances that do not meet the conditions for subsidies or rewards.
If the employers or individuals fail to return the funds in full within the specified period, their legal liability shall be pursued.
Cases involving suspected criminal activity shall be referred to the appropriate legal authorities.
Article 15.
Rule Against Double Benefits
Applicants eligible for similar support under these Measures and other programs in the Cooperation Zone, or who have applied for similar subsidies or rewards provided from Guangdong province or Zhuhai city, shall adhere to the principle of “prioritizing the higher standard without duplication”, and shall not receive duplicate subsidies or rewards.
Article 16.
Taxes and Fees
Any taxes and fees arising from subsidies or rewards under these Measures shall be borne by the recipient in accordance with applicable laws, regulations, and relevant provisions. The subsidy amounts specified in Article 5 (Employment Subsidy) and Article 8 (Vocational Skill Enhancement Subsidy) refers to the post-tax amounts actually disbursed.
Article 17.
Right of Interpretation
The Livelihood Affairs Bureau of the Cooperation Zone reserves the right to interpret these Measures.
Article 18.
Effective Date and Validity Period
These Measures shall come into effect on February 1, 2025, and shall remain valid for three years.