October is the month for payment of contributions for the third quarter of this year for the Social Security System.  The Social Security Fund (abbreviated to FSS in Macao) reminded that the number of people at the service points would be expected to increase towards the end of the month.  Employers are urged to make their payments as early as possible and make use of electronic channels.  If they need to visit a service point in person, it is also recommended to use the appointment service.  In addition, the FSS reminded that St. Lazarus Parish Field Office located at Rua de Eduardo Marques had reopened while the temporary office at Tap Seac had closed.

All employers must pay contributions for their local long-term employees in October.  If a non-resident worker is hired, the employer must pay the employment fee for the non-resident worker as well.  For the payment of contributions, and the employment fee for non-resident workers, employers who use the electronic filing service and submit the employee data within the specified period of time can use the electronic payment options such as AutoPay, online banking or ATMs of nine designated banks (including Bank of China Macau Branch, Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (Macau) Ltd., Banco Comercial de Macau, Tai Fung Bank, Banco Nacional Ultramarino, OCBC Wing Hang Bank, Macau Chinese Bank, Luso International Banking Limited and Delta Asia Bank) or the BOC EXPRESS.  If there is no change in the employment situation of local long-term employees during the quarter, other employers may also pay the contributions at the Public Services Centres and sub-stations of Municipal Affairs Bureau or at the service counters of the nine designated banks.

For the payment of contributions, beneficiaries of the arbitrary system may also use their Macao SAR Resident ID Card number, either at the self-service machines with FSS’s label, the nine designated banks’ payment counters, AutoPay or online banking, the BOC EXPRESS, Municipal Affairs Bureau’s Public Services Centres and sub-stations, or at a service point of the FSS. 

According to the law, employers must pay a late payment interest and a fine if they make their payments late.  As for beneficiaries of the arbitrary system, those who make their payments late cannot rectify the default contributions unless contributions are paid within two months after the expiration of the statutory time limit, plus a late payment interest. 

For more information, residents may visit the FSS’swebsite at www.fss.gov.mo,or call 2853 2850 during office hours for enquiries.