The Social Security Fund (FSS) said that the payment of obligatory system contributions of the local long-term employees (without changes in the employment situation in the quarter) and the employment fee for non-resident workers can be made at six designated banks from April onwards. On the other hand, beneficiaries who have stopped paying arbitrary system contributions for a year will not receive the quarterly contribution advice from the FSS any more.

April is the month for paying contributions for the first quarter of this year. Employers are required to pay the obligatory system contributions for their local employees in April. If non-resident workers are hired, the employment fee should be paid at the same time. In order to provide a faster and more convenient way for employers to pay the obligatory system contributions of their local long-term employees (without changes in the employment situation in the quarter) and the employment fee for non-resident workers, the FSS has reached an agreement with six designated banks, i.e., apart from the FSS Head Office or the Area of Social Security and Employment Services in the Areia Preta Service Centre of Macao SAR (the Centre), employers can, since April onwards, make the payment in the Bank of China Limited Macau Branch, Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (Macau) Limited, Banco Comercial de Macau S.A., Tai Fung Bank Limited, the Macau Chinese Bank Limited and Luso International Banking Limited in cash, by cheque or cashier order (payable to “Fundo de Segurança Social”) (the above designated banks only accept the cheque and cashier order of their own banks), or pay through the in-house account transfer, and the relevant payment should be made in patacas. The obligatory system contribution form in its new layout will start to be used from this quarter. The FSS reminds employers to pay attention to the method of completing the new form.

On the other hand, arbitrary system beneficiaries are also required to pay their contributions in April. In addition to the locations mentioned above, payment of contributions can also be made at Islands District Public Services Centre of Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau, or through the service counters, autopay, online banking services of the eight designated banks, or the self-service machines “BOC EXPRESS”.

In response to environmental protection and reduction of paper use, the FSS will stop sending contribution advice to arbitrary system beneficiaries who have stopped paying contributions for a year. Starting from today, about 11,000 said beneficiaries will start to receive notifications from the FSS in succession. The relevant persons who wish to pay the contributions again in the future may come in person or entrust someone to get the contribution advice from the FSS Head Office or the Area of Social Security and Employment Services in the Centre with the beneficiary’s Macao SAR Resident Identity Card (either the original or the photocopy).

For more information, members of the public can visit the FSS website at www.fss.gov.mo, or call 2853 2850 during office hours.