[ Human Trafficking, Country-by-Country ]

MACAU (Tier 3) – Extracted in part from the U.S. State Dept 2023 TIP Report

The Government of the Macau Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so even considering the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, if any, on its anti-trafficking capacity; therefore Macau remained on Tier 3.  Despite the lack of significant efforts, the government took some steps to address trafficking, including investigating five suspected cases of Macau residents recruited by traffickers using cyber scam operations in Southeast Asia, training police officers on anti-trafficking efforts, and initiating one prosecution.  However, the government did not adequately report proactively screening at-risk populations, such as individuals in commercial sex, for trafficking indicators; and for the fourth consecutive year, the government did not identify or provide services to any victims.  The government has not convicted a trafficker since 2019 and has never identified a victim of forced labor exploited in Macau.

Prioritized Recommendations

Significantly increase proactive victim identification, especially among vulnerable populations such as migrant workers and persons in commercial sex.

Significantly increase efforts to investigate, prosecute, and convict sex and labor traffickers, including those operating in casinos and other entertainment establishments, and seek adequate penalties for convicted traffickers, which should include significant prison terms.

Ensure victims are referred to and receive protective services.

Provide anti-trafficking training to relevant government personnel, including to prosecutors and judges on the use of the trafficking law, ensuring an understanding that a victim’s initial consent is not seen as evidence that trafficking did not occur.

Develop, approve, and implement an updated anti-trafficking action plan.

Increase efforts to screen for and identify labor trafficking victims and male victims, including by improving victim-centered screening practices.

Amend the labor law to include protections for foreign domestic workers.

Take steps to eliminate recruitment or placement fees charged to workers by employment agencies in Macau and in their countries of origin, including by ensuring any recruitment fees are paid by employers and coordinating with migrant workers’ countries of origin.