In a joint statement released overnight by the Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau (DICJ) and the Macau Labor Affairs Bureau (DSAL) in response to media inquiries regarding recent junket room closures, DICJ and DSAL say they are “highly concerned” and “remind relevant entities to treat employees of VIP rooms in accordance with current laws and regulations.”
The statement noted that for those staff employed directly by the concessionaires in junket VIP rooms, their employment “will not be affected by the suspension of the VIP room.” Regarding those employees directly hired by junkets, the statement noted the junkets “have the obligation to protect the labor rights of employees.”
DSAL further stated that at this time “it has not received any requests for help from employees of relevant companies” and that “the Bureau will continue to pay attention to the employment situation of local residents,” noting that “if a gambling employee believes that their rights and interests have been impaired, they can report it to the Labor Affairs Bureau” and DSAL “must follow up and deal with it in accordance with the law to protect the legitimate labor rights of employees.”
The statement follows the current upheaval in Macau’s junket industry which is expected to affect hundreds if not thousands of staff formerly employed in Macau’s VIP sector. Given the already severe reduction in gaming demand as a result of the global pandemic and the consequent over-staffing of many of Macau’s casino concessionaire properties, the position taken by DICJ and DSAL may well exacerbate that current over-staffing situation being experienced by Macau concessionaires.
RelatedPosts
