The Macau government on Friday stressed there are no plans to open dealer positions to migrant workers.
The city’s Human Resources Office issued the clarification after what it said were online “rumours” stating otherwise.
Macau’s Chief Executive Fernando Chui Sai On, who is running unopposed for a second five-year term, has stated he would maintain the prohibition of gaming operators importing workers for dealer positions in his second term. But Mr Chui has urged local casino staff to work hard to upgrade their skills, to get promoted to higher positions.
Casino workers however want the government to take a clearer stance on the matter. Local labour activist group Forefront of the Macao Gaming has scheduled for Monday a new protest, and the continuity of the “locals only” policy for dealer positions is one of their demands, alongside with changes in the pay and promotion policies for casino staff.
Although the government does not authorise migrant workers to take up dealer positions, there is no law officially forbidding that.
Forefront of the Macao Gaming has organised several protests since July, each targeting individual gaming operators, namely SJM Holdings Ltd, Galaxy Entertainment Group Ltd and Sands China Ltd. Monday’s protest however will target all the six operators, Forefront of the Macao Gaming president Ieong Man Teng told GGRAsia.
Mr Ieong said the group had requested a meeting with Mr Chui to discuss pay and promotion policies in the gaming industry, but received no reply.
Monday’s protest is scheduled to pass in front of several casino properties and will end at the doors of the government headquarters. The group is scheduled to deliver a petition there.
