Research On The Legal System Of Social Assistance In Macao

Social security is a comprehensive social project. Based on different economic and humanistic environments, different countries or districts have their own design of structure and mode of social security. China's mainland bases social security system on its economic development within the frame of socialist politics, with workers as its primary target subject; whereas Taiwan District has its development of social security in a capitalist environment. And both Macau and Hong Kong formulate their own policy of social welfare on the basis of economic condition and social demand, in accordance with the relevant provisions from“the Basic Law of the Macau Special Administrative Region”and“the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region”. This research aims to explore the situation of Macau's social relief system over the past few years since the return of Macau, focusing on the content of social relief towards low-income vulnerable groups. Besides, by making a comparison with Hong Kong, Taiwan and the mainland's mainland as well as other advanced countries in the world, the author hopes that this research could help to further develop and improve Macau's social relief system.The theme of this paper is“Research on Macau's Social Relief Legal System”and it accentuates the role of social relief legal system as the last safety net or last protective screen in the current society. The author intends to examine and improve the Macau SAR's existing social relief legal system from various aspects, including relief content, relief area, target subject, types of relief and the minimum subsistence index. The research procedure is as follows: first, to analyze the problems in Macau's existing social relief legal system; second, to refer to the systems of other advanced countries; third, to compare the legislative trend of social relief between Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan and the mainland's mainland; and finally to point out the room for improvement on Macau's existing social relief legal system.The research method applied in this paper involves the analysis of relevant legal texts, historical study as well as comparative approach. The paper illustrates the history of Macau's contemporary social relief legal system and the status quo. Among others, Macau's special minimum subsistence index (normally called minimum livelihood security line) is analyzed as one of the key points.The focuses of this research are as follows: First, to explore the Macau SAR's policy of social relief system and its implementation.Second, to analyze the status quo of and problems in Macau's social relief system.Third, to establish the standard for the minimum subsistence index and to make clear its importance.Fourth, to refer to the experiences of advanced countries on social assistance and to compare the practices under different systems among Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan and the mainland's mainland.Fifth, to analyze the advantages of better approaches from other regions so as to help improve Macau's social relief system.Sixth, to summarize and provide substantial suggestions for the improvement of Macau's social relief system.