The Labor & Personnel Dispute Arbitration Committee of Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin included two Macao labor arbitrators into the collegial panel for the first time to settle a Macao-related labor dispute on Feb 23. 

The case, which involved disputes between a Chinese mainland employee and a Macao enterprise's wholly-owned subsidiary over labor remuneration, unpaid part of double-time pay, and economic compensation for labor contract dissolution, required the review of many cross-border evidences. 

Two Macao lawyers Zeng Xinzhi and Huang Jingxi were invited to take part in the trial as labor arbitrators. Both of them work for Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao joint run law firms and are thus familiar with the social and legal systems of both Guangdong and Macao. 

According to an official from the local Commercial Service Bureau, an increasing number of Macao enterprises and residents in the In-Depth Cooperation Zone will make labor-capital relations more pluralistic, and bring more challenges to labor arbitration. A litigation and mediation center will next be established and recruit Hong Kong and Macao mediators for diversified cross-border labor dispute resolutions.

Two Macao arbitrators, Zeng Xinzhi (left) and Huang Jingxi (right) [Photo courtesy Commercial Service Bureau of Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin]