Melco Resorts & Entertainment has revealed it will offer three days of special paid leave to all staff who need to accompany their children aged under 18 or their elderly parents to be vaccinated against COVID-19.
The initiative builds on Melco’s “Get the Jab” immunity incentive program which saw the company award MOP$16 million (US$2 million) to staff in 2021, including MOP$1,000 (US$125) for all staff who were fully vaccinated and a MOP$1 million (US$125,000) prize for each of three lucky staff whose names were drawn in November.
Despite such efforts from Macau’s casino operators, the city-wide vaccination stands at just over 75% – prompting the Novel Coronavirus Response and Coordination Center to issue a call last week for people in three particular age groups to get vaccinated.
According to the center, the vaccination rate of children aged 3 to 11 is just 6.7%, while those aged 80 or above are at just 17.9% and those aged 70 to 79 is at 45.7%. All are considered low or very low.
“The health and safety of our colleagues, community and customers are of paramount priority,” said Melco Chairman and CEO, Lawrence Ho.
“To encourage the vaccination of children and elderly parents of our colleagues, we will be giving paid special days off for our colleagues to accompany their children and elderly parents to get vaccinated.”
