Galaxy, MGM, Sands extend maternity leave for staff

May 15, 2018 Newsdesk Latest News, Macau, Top of the deck  

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Macau-based casino operators Galaxy Entertainment Group Ltd, Sands China Ltd and MGM China Holdings Ltd have respectively announced longer leave for new mothers who are eligible employees of the firms, namely extending it to 70 days from 56 days.

Earlier this week, rival casino operators Melco Resorts and Entertainment Ltd and SJM Holdings Ltd had made similar announcements.

Wynn Macau Ltd was the first casino operator in Macau to announce a 70-day maternity leave. It gave the news in April.

Members of Macau gaming labour activist group Professional for Gaming of New Macau had been calling for the city’s six casino operators to give longer paid leave for eligible employees who are either new mothers or new fathers.

Macau’s existing labour law states that a male worker is entitled to two working days of unpaid leave from his employment due to paternity: a female worker is entitled to 56 days of paid maternity leave.

In its Tuesday announcement, Galaxy Entertainment stated it was “pleased to announce the implementation of 70 days of paid maternity leave, effective from today (May 15), as [casino resort] Galaxy Macau celebrates its seventh anniversary, in order to support the consultation results on paternity leave benefits recently released by the Macau Labour Affairs Bureau, and provide team members with longer duration for resting and taking care of their families after delivery [childbirth].”

Galaxy Entertainment had announced on February 27 a paid paternity leave policy, effective on April 1.

In mid-February, Sands China had also said that it would be implementing a paid paternity leave policy, effective from February 16, for eligible employees.

“Sands China has always placed importance on team members’ work-life balance, so we are very pleased to announce this extension in our maternity leave policy,” company president Wilfred Wong Ying Wai said in a prepared statement. The firm’s extended maternity leave policy will come into effect on Friday.

For female employees of MGM China, the new maternity leave scheme will become available from June 1. “Meanwhile, the duration of paid paternity leave is being extended to five working days from the current two working days,” the firm added.

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