Gov’t rejects claims of ‘invisible overtime’ in civil service

The Public Administration and Civil Service Bureau (SAFP) has refuted allegations of widespread unpaid, unreported overtime among Macau’s civil servants, stating that government departments may already communicate with staff on work matters based on actual needs and reasonably arrange off-hours services, with relevant personnel receiving overtime compensation in accordance with the law. Lawmaker Chan Hao Weng raised concerns in a written inquiry about the erosion of civil servants’ right to disconnect and the prevalence of unpaid “invisible overtime.” He noted that “many leaders and supervisors habitually issue non-urgent work instructions v…