According to the existing Law No. 4/2010 (Social Security System), employers must pay obligatory system contributions for their local employees, while other adult Macao SAR residents can pay contributions by enrolling in the arbitrary system.  The Social Security Fund (abbreviated to FSS in Macao) reminds employers and residents to honestly provide information when making contributions; otherwise it may constitute a basis for criminal liability.  Recently, a case was sentenced by the court, and the person was convicted of a fraud that involves a huge amount of money.

According to relevant laws and regulations, employers must honestly provide the employment information of their employees to the FSS, and pay contributions for them.  Macao SAR residents who have attained the age of 18 can apply for enrolment in the arbitrary system and make contributions to the system.  One of the requirements is that the person must have been in Macao for at least 183 days in the 12 months before filing the application.  The FSS has a verification mechanism － if someone is found to have falsely provided information or used false statements with the intent to obtain improper benefits for oneself or others, the case will be transferred to the Public Prosecutions Office.

Recently, in a case of making a false statement to enrol in the arbitrary system, the person involved was found guilty.  In order to enrol as a beneficiary of the arbitrary system, apply for payment of retrospective contributions and apply for old-age pension, the person, although knowing that she herself had been in the Macao SAR for less than 183 days in the 12 months before filing the application for enrolment in the arbitrary system, and that she had been in Macao for less than 183 days in each year during the several years of paying the retrospective contributions, still made a false statement about the number of days being in Macao, defrauding old-age pension of more than 120,000 patacas.  The person was convicted of a fraud that involves huge amount of money.

The FSS reminds employers and residents to honestly provide information when making contributions.  A person must bear the legal consequences for making a false statement with the intent to obtain improper benefits.  For enquiries, please visit the FSS’s website at www.fss.gov.mo, or call 2853 2850 during office hours.