''Without this law, the situation is unclear and workers will continue to be confused as to their right to protest against their employers,'' said proponent Joao Bosco Cheang, a directly elected legislator who is also president of the Macau Gaming Industry Laborers Association. Votes in favor of the bill to establish a legal framework to regulate union activities outnumbered votes against, 11-8, but passage required support from a majority of the legislature's 27 members. Four members abstained, three were absent and the assembly president does not vote. Opponents, primarily members elected to represent sectoral interests, attacked the bill as likely to undermine the economy and local businesses.

''I won't vote for this law because, once in effect, I won't be able to sack a worker who decides to go on strike,'' said Chan Chak-mo, a senior manager at the Kingsway Casino.

Businessman Fong Chi-keong, who is attempting to move from a sectoral seat to a popularly elected seat, said the bill ``only defends the rights of the workers, hurting the bosses.''

The bill would have implemented a provision of Macau's Basic Law that guarantees the right to form and join unions. The Basic Law also guarantees the right to strike. At present, there is no law protecting strikers or collective bargaining agreements.

Miguel Quental, a University of Macau law lecturer, said in a television interview: ``There is no way a union law could hurt Macau's current economic boom, much to the contrary.''

Cheang said heated competition for casino employees amid the current labor shortage might lead to union demands for further raises, which could be dealt with fruitfully through collective bargaining. macaueditor@singtaonewscorp.com