Insights
How to Hire Employees in Macau
Insights · By Chen ChunJie · Published 8 November 2026
Macau’s labour market is small and tightly regulated, with a clear line between residents and non-resident workers. A foreign company can hire residents through its own Macau company, through an employer of record, or engage independent contractors for defined projects. This guide covers the routes, contracts, pay, leave and how employment ends.
Last reviewed in November 2026 against the Labour Relations Law as amended by Law 9/2026, the minimum wage law, Social Security Fund rules and the 2026 Budget Law. Rates change, so we confirm them for each engagement.
Three ways to hire
| Route | Who employs the person | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Your own Macau company | Your company or branch | Long-term teams |
| Employer of record | A Macau employer such as our Local Team | Resident hires before your entity is ready |
| Independent contractor | No employer; a services contract | Projects by genuinely independent professionals |
Contracts and probation
Open-ended contracts can be oral, but fixed-term contracts must be written, so put every role in writing. Probation is 90 days by default (30 for fixed-term) and up to 180 days for technical, highly qualified or management roles.
No Macau company yet? Our Local Team can be the legal employer while you manage the work. See Employer of Record in Macau.
Pay and payroll
The minimum wage is MOP 35 an hour, MOP 7,280 a month in 2026. The employer pays MOP 60 a month to the Social Security Fund, deducts the employee’s MOP 30, holds work-accident insurance and withholds professional tax. See our Macau payroll and tax guide.
Working time and leave
| Rule | What applies |
|---|---|
| Hours | 8 a day and 48 a week |
| Annual leave | 6 working days after a year; from 2027, 7 days after 2 years, rising to 12 |
| Sick leave | 6 paid days a year after probation |
| Maternity and paternity | 90 days and 5 working days |
Ending employment
Without just cause, the employer gives at least 15 days’ notice and pays compensation of 7 days’ pay for the first year, then 10 to 20 days’ pay per year of service, capped at 12 months’ pay and calculated on monthly pay up to MOP 21,500.
Hiring non-resident workers
Non-resident workers need a hiring authorisation from the Labour Affairs Bureau and may work only for the authorised employer. See Expat Employment in Macau.
FAQ: hiring employees in Macau
Is a written contract required?
For fixed-term contracts and non-resident workers, yes.
What is the minimum wage?
MOP 35 an hour in 2026.
How much annual leave is required?
6 working days after a year, rising with service from 2027.
Hiring your first employee in Macau?
Our Local Team employs the person, runs payroll with professional tax and the Social Security Fund, and handles the paperwork, while you manage the day-to-day work.
Related
How we employ your team in Macau.
Contracts, leave, termination and more.