The government of the Macao Special Administrative Region (MSAR) is to save no effort to tackle the current dispute between the local employers and employees, said the MSAR chief on Friday.

Ho Hau Wah, the chief executive of the MSAR, told a cocktail reception held by a local labor union that the government plans to adjust its employment regulations and surveillance systems to protect the benefits of local employees.

The authorities will crackdown the illegal hiring of the imported laborers, Ho pledged.

The chief executive said his government will also provide more social welfare measures and training courses for the local laborers to enhance their competition in the labor market.

The growing number of imported laborers have been sparking resentment of the local employees towards the employers, as a handful of street protests were witnessed in the tranquil town in April.

Local employers hired more overseas laborers to save expenses, which is viewed by local laborers as a blow to their rights.

Macao, with a population of over 480,000, has a local labor force of some 250,000.

(Xinhua News Agency April 29, 2006)