Dear colleagues,
As a comprehensive and public university, the University of Macau (UM) acts in compliance with law, supports public policies and works in line with its aims and goals.
In February 2015, the Commission of Audit (CA) published a special audit report on the University of Macau staff housing allocation regime, University of Macau’s Zhuhai Research Institute and University of Macau Development Foundation. According to the report, the SAR government adheres to the principle that public housing, supported by public funds, is only provided to assist residents and civil servants that do not have any property. However, UM uses public resources to provide additional accommodation to teachers and staffs who are property owners. This practice is not only against the principle of the public housing policy of the SAR government, but also against the principle of effective use of public resources, thus failing to obtain the benefit that public funds are designated for.
In response to the opinions of the CA, a UM Staff Housing Policy Review Committee (Committee) was established in June 2017 to follow up on the matter. The Committee devised the draft of the Regulations on the Staff Housing of the University of Macau (Housing Regulations) (See Attachment 1). After the approval of the University Council, the Housing Regulations are published in the Official Gazette of the Macao Special Administrative Region, Series II on 3 July 2019, and will officially come into effect on 4 July.
In comparison with the current regime, revisions in the new Housing Regulations are as follows:
- All staff members who apply for staff housing and the family members who live with them may not own residential property in Macao or be provided with any forms of housing by other public entities.
- Where a staff member or any of the family members living with him/her purchases residential property in Macao after moving into a housing unit, he/she shall take the initiative to declare to UM and vacate the housing unit within six months from the day when the residential property ownership is obtained.
- Transitional provisions: Occupants who own residential property in Macao before the effective date of the new Regulations shall vacate the housing units within six months from the effective date of their next employment contracts.
- Regarding rental payment, Article 10(1) of Chapter 7 of the Regulations of the Personnel Affairs of the University of Macau, which prescribed that ‘a staff member who is offered staff housing shall pay a monthly rent which is equal to 4% of his/her basic monthly remuneration or 4% of salary index of 900, whichever is lower’, was deleted. The calculation of the residence fee is standardized to be 4% of the salary index points of the staff concerned.
For example, a staff member whose basic monthly remuneration is 1,000 salary index points should pay a monthly residence fee:
Before the Housing Regulations come into effect |
After the Housing Regulations come into effect |
900 x 4% x MOP88 = MOP3,168.00 |
1,000x 4% x MOP88 = MOP3,520.00 |
For the implementation of the Housing Regulations, the university also formulated detailed provisions in the Rules on the Staff Housing of the University of Macau (Housing Rules) (See Attachment 2). The Housing Rules, having been approved by the rector of UM, will take effect on 4 July 2019.
In addition, the university will continue to review and enhance the residence fee system for staff housing. A mechanism for calculating residence fee will be formulated in a fair and equitable manner to make the best use of resources.
For any enquiry, please contact the Staff Housing Team of the Facility Development Section of the Campus Management and Development Office via email: sq_application@um.edu.mo.
Thank you for your attention.
Yours faithfully,
Campus Management and Development Office
Attachment:
1. The Regulations on the Staff Housing of the University of Macau
https://webdocs.umac.mo/sites/governance/All%20documents/Regulations%20on%20the%20Staff%20Housing%20of%20the%20University%20of%20Macau.pdf
2. The Rules on the Staff Housing of the University of Macau
https://webdocs.umac.mo/sites/governance/All%20documents/Rules%20on%20the%20Staff%20Housing%20of%20the%20University%20of%20Macau.pdf
|