The Legislative Assembly of the Macau Special Administrative Region has passed the new labor law after one year and two months of deliberation.

The Macau government handed over the draft of the law to the Legislative Assembly in May 2007 and the final text in July 2008.

The new law has made 50 modifications to the current law, but employers and employee representatives still have different opinions on questions such as long service payments.

According to the new law, maternity leave has been increased from 35 days to 56 days and mandatory paid leave increased from six days to 10 days. Overtime payments are also defined in the new law.

It is reported that the new law will be brought into effect on January 1, 2009.