Macau is a Special Administrative Region (SAR) of the People's Republic of China with a high degree of autonomy except in matters of defence and foreign affairs.

Under the terms of the Basic Law, residents are free from discrimination on grounds of nationality, descent, race, sex, language, religion, political persuasion, ideological belief, educational level, economic status or social condition. The law is enforced.

A 300-member election committee elects the Chief Executive. Universal suffrage is not the objective in the Basic Law. In Macau's third legislative elections, 58% of registered voters participated to elect 12 of the 29 legislators; interest groups elect 10 members and the Chief Executive appoints 7. Legislators may not initiate legislation concerning the SAR's political structure, government operations or public expenditure. 6 women serve in the 29-member assembly, and women hold a number of senior government positions. 3 ethnic minorities have members in the assembly.

The judiciary is independent in law. Courts may rule on matters that are "the responsibility of the Central People's Government or concern the relationship between the central authorities and the Special Administrative Region." Before making their final judgment in such cases, courts must seek an interpretation from the China's National People's Congress Standing Committee and then "follow the interpretation of the Standing Committee."

An independent commission makes recommendations to the Chief Executive for the appointment of judges at all levels. Accusations of abuse by security forces are investigated, and impunity is not a problem. Allegations of public sector corruption are also investigated.

Freedom of speech and of the press are respected. Access to government information is not provided in law. The executive branch publishes online in Chinese and Portuguese.

Trafficking is a criminal offence. Victims of trafficking do not receive government assistance.

Residents have the right to education regardless of race, religious belief or political or ideological convictions. School attendance is compulsory for ages 5 to 15. Public schools and subsidised private schools provide basic education covering a kindergarten year, primary school and secondary school. Assistance is given to families that cannot pay school fees. Children of illegal immigrants are excluded from education. The gender ratio in education is balanced.

The programme starts at age 3 and lasts 3 years. 94% of ECE is private. The Net Enrolment Rate (NER) is 85% (47% female). There are 459 ECE teachers (99% female), of whom 99% are trained. The pupil/teacher ratio (PTR) is 26 : 1.

Primary education begins at age 6 and lasts 6 years. 47% of students at this level are girls. 6% of students repeat a grade level. All students who enrol in Grade 1 reach the final grade of primary school. There are 1,632 primary teachers (89% female), of whom 91% are trained (77% of men, 93% of women). The PTR is 24 : 1.

The programme begins at age 12 and lasts 6 years. Compulsory education ends at age 14. 50% of secondary students are girls. 94% of secondary education is private. 5% of students study in technical education programmes. 10% of students repeat a grade level. There are 2,001 secondary teachers, 1,139 (61% female) in lower secondary and 862 (51% female) in upper secondary schools, and 64% of secondary teachers are trained (51% of men, 73% of women). The PTR is 24 : 1 in lower secondary and 22 : 1 in upper secondary education.

24,815 students study in tertiary institutions, for a Gross Enrolment Rate of 69%. At this level, 67% of institutions are private. There are 14,568 foreign students studying in Macau, the vast majority from East Asian countries. At the same time, 853 students from Macau study abroad, mainly in the USA (374), Australia (282), the UK (107) Canada (45) and Portugal (20).

Reports do not indicate discrimination against persons with disabilities in education or in other services. Financial and rehabilitation assistance is given to persons with disabilities, and 24 rehabilitation facilities are funded. Services include day centres, preschool training and education centres, vocational training and employment centres and a rehabilitation bus service. Programmes for persons with physical and mental disabilities are intended to assist with access to education. NGOs providing services for the disabled receive financial assistance. 13 schools have programmes for disabled children through special education programs.

The law provides for the granting of asylum or refugee status in accordance with the 1951 UN Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees and its 1967 Protocol. Macau cooperates with the UNHCR. Migrant children are not provided with the right to education.

Discrimination on the basis of racial or ethnic background is illegal, and the rights of ethnic minorities, particularly the Macanese, are respected. Portuguese is spoken by approximately 2% of the population. The Chinese language has official status, and the use of Chinese in the civil service has grown in recent years.

There are no restrictions on academic freedom or the Internet.

Equal opportunity legislation applies to all organisations. Equal pay for work of equal value is the law. Discrimination based on sex or physical ability is prohibited. Women have become more active and visible in business. Wage discrimination exists in certain sectors despite the legislation. Domestic violence is punishable. No law deals with sexual harassment.

Minors under age 16 are prohibited from working, except for occasional special authorisations for children aged 14 and 15. Children work in family-run businesses and on fishing vessels during vacations. The ILO conventions on child labour apply.

Workers have the right to form and join trade unions, except public servants and migrant workers. The ILO conventions in force before the handover remain in force. Most private sector unions are members of the China Federation of Trade Unions (FTU). There are 173 registered independent trade unions. Some 79% of public sector employees are unionised. Agreements between employers and workers are valid, but the right to collective bargaining is not guaranteed. Local custom favours employment without the benefit of written labour contracts. Strikes are permitted, but none are reported.

Forced or compulsory labour is illegal. There is no mandatory minimum wage. Labour legislation provides for a 48-hour work week. Migrant workers often receive less than local residents for performing the same job. They live in dormitories and work 10-hour to 12-hour days and tend to owe money to import companies for getting their jobs.