90% of management roles in gaming held by locals, Macau official says

Jenny Ortiz August 9, 2024

The Secretary for Economy and Finance of Macau, Lei Wai Nong, shared that as of June, residents hold 90.3 percent of intermediate or senior management positions at the city’s gaming concessionaires, surpassing the required threshold of 85 percent. During a session at the Legislative Assembly (AL), Lei highlighted this achievement as part of the government’s ongoing efforts to boost local employment within the gaming sector.

According to a report by Macau Business, Lei also noted that the Labour Affairs Bureau (DSAL) has been collaborating with gaming operators to implement an “Employment + Training” plan, designed to offer professional development opportunities for residents. The plan has already seen 21 initiatives launched, with 379 residents successfully beginning their roles.

Concerns about illegal work and labour violations

Despite this progress, the session also saw Lei come under fire from lawmakers who expressed dissatisfaction with the government’s handling of labour-related illegalities. According to the report of the Macau Daily Times, Lawmaker Nick Lei was particularly vocal, criticising the Secretary for failing to address the persistent issue of illegal work in Macau. Nick Lei accused the government of being reactive rather than proactive. He also highlighted the prevalence of illegal services such as unauthorised photography and driving, which are often advertised online and go unchecked by authorities.

In response, a representative from Lei Wai Nong’s team mentioned that the Public Security Police Force (PSP) has been conducting inspections to combat illegal work. However, these efforts were deemed insufficient by lawmakers, who demanded more robust actions.

Corporate misconduct and non-resident worker quotas

The session also addressed broader labour concerns, particularly regarding the treatment of non-resident workers (TNRs) by companies. Lawmaker Ron Lam cited a recent case involving luxury retailer DFS, where employees were pressured to take unpaid leave. Lam questioned the government’s approach to regulating companies that exploit TNRs while maintaining local workers in precarious positions. He also called for greater transparency in the disclosure of TNR numbers and job categories to ensure a fair hiring process.

In response, Lei Wai Nong mentioned that the government would reevaluate the quotas for companies found violating labour laws, but lawmakers remained sceptical about the effectiveness of these measures.

While the government’s success in increasing local employment in the gaming sector was acknowledged, lawmakers continue to press for stronger actions against illegal work and labour violations in Macau.