Macau casino employees demand a raise

More than 200 employees held a strike demanding a pay rise.

Macau.- Casino workers in Macau believe that they need a raise in their payments. They believe that a strike was a good way to demand a 5 percent pay hike and a new legislation that would boost trade unions and better representation.

Professionals for Gaming of New Macau was the organisation that led the protests, and they said that the goal was to get the government’s attention to the low wages, and make the casinos understand that their salaries needed an update because they’re behind an economy that’s currently under the attack of local inflation. Sands China Limited, operator of Sands Macao, The Venetial Macao Resort Hotel, Sands Cotai Central and The Parisian Macao, announces that they already decided to increase the salaries of their workers. The group is also asking for a law that would ensure a better regulation of trade union activities. Antonio Ng Kuok Cheong and Au Kam San, local legislators, expressed their support on the measure.

According to Investment bank Sanford Bernstein, the casino industry in Macau has increased its revenues 10–12 percent in the first week of the year, in comparison with the same period of 2016. “With Chinese New Year commencing on January 28, the first two days of the holiday are generally softer compared to the latter part of the week.  We expect strong GGR performance at the end of January preceded by softening in GGR over the next 3 weeks,” they said.