Macao Daily News ── To Know the Laws of Macao
Combating the Crime of Trafficking in Persons

Published in newspaper on 02.03.2026

　　The Macao SAR Government has always been committed to preventing and combating illegal activities related to trafficking in persons. In 2007, the Human Trafficking Deterrent Measures Concern Committee was established to respond to the activities related to trafficking in persons and in 2008, the crime of “trafficking in persons” was added to the Criminal Code. The legal provisions regarding the crime of “trafficking in persons” will be introduced in the column today.

　　Penalties for the Crime of “Trafficking in Persons”

　According to paragraph 1 of Article 153-A of the Criminal Code, the act of offering, delivering, inducing, recruiting, accepting, transporting, transferring, harbouring or receiving a person for the purpose of sexual exploitation, exploitation of labour or services of that person, in particular forced labour or services, slavery or practices similar to slavery, removal of organs or tissues of human origin by violence, abduction, deception or fraud, or by means such as abuse of authority as a result of a hierarchical relationship and abuse of psychic incapacity of the victim constitutes the crime of “trafficking in persons” and the perpetrator shall be punished with a maximum penalty of 12 years of imprisonment.

　　If the victim is a minor, regardless of the means used by the perpetrator, as long as they were to achieve the purposes referred to in paragraph 1, the crime of “trafficking in persons” will be constituted and the perpetrator shall be punished with a maximum penalty of 15 years of imprisonment pursuant to paragraphs 2 and 3 of Article 153-A of the Criminal Code. If the victim is under the age of 14, the perpetrator shall even be punished with a maximum penalty of 20 years of imprisonment. If a person, by means of receiving benefits, surrenders or cedes a minor, or gives the consent to the adoption of a minor, etc., he shall be punished with a maximum penalty of 5 years of imprisonment according to paragraph 4 of Article 153-A of the Criminal Code.

　In addition, if the perpetrator retains, conceals, damages or destroys the identity or travel documents of a victim of trafficking in persons, etc., the crime of “trafficking in persons” will also be constituted and in general, the perpetrator shall be punished with a maximum penalty of 5 years of imprisonment.

　　Rights of Victims

　　As regards the rights of victims of the crime of trafficking in persons, there are legal provisions for such rights. According to Article 6 of Law 6/2008, a victim of the crime of trafficking in persons shall be entitled to the following rights: (1) to communicate immediately with the embassy, the consulate, or the official representation of his or her country or territory of origin; (2) to join the judicial proceedings as assistant and civil party; (3) to obtain compensation for losses and damages in accordance with applicable laws; (4) to have appropriate protection; (5) to remain in the Macao Special Administrative Region during all measures related to the crime of trafficking in persons of which he or she is the victim; (6) to have legal protection including legal counselling and legal aid; (7) to be assisted by an appropriate translator or interpreter throughout the course of the judicial proceedings whenever he or she does not know or does not speak any of the official languages of the Macao Special Administrative Region; (8) to obtain social assistance from the Social Welfare Bureau, in particular, the necessary social assistance to return to his or her country or territory of origin, if it is proven that he or she lacks economic and social resources; (9) to receive psychological, healthcare and medical assistance for free, provided in accordance with Decree-law 24/86/M of 15 March, with necessary adaptations and other applicable laws; (10) to have protection of confidentiality in the course of judicial proceedings and administrative procedures related to the crime of trafficking in persons.

　　If anyone suspects that someone may have committed the crime of “trafficking in persons”, please contact the police as soon as possible, or call the 24-hour human trafficking report and assistance hotline at 2888-9911 to provide information.

Note: The content of this article has references primarily to the provisions of Article 153-A of the Criminal Code and Article 6 of Law 6/2008 on Combat the Crime of Trafficking in Persons.

(Should you have any comments on this column, please write to the Legal Dissemination and Public Relations Department of the Legal Affairs Bureau, Alameda Dr. Carlos D’Assumpção, n.º 398, Edf. CNAC, 21.º andar, Macau or email 89872233@dsaj.gov.mo, with the inclusion of your name and contact means.)

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