Some local employees from various departments of a Macau gaming operator have sought help from a legislator after being laid off without explanation, accusing the government of tacitly approving such a practice across the city’s six gaming operators.
The case was brought to light by legislator Ron Lam U Tou in a social media post, though he did not disclose the names of the gaming operators involved.
According to Lam, these local employees approached him on Monday after being notified of their dismissal on 28 February. “Their labour contracts were immediately terminated without reasonable justification, and no reasons for the termination or alternative job options were provided,” he said.
“A number of employees from different departments [at the gaming operator] were suddenly dismissed without any wrongdoing or explanation,” he said.
“The dismissed employees also stated that at the beginning of this year, there were already rumours in the industry that the government had ‘given the green light’ for gaming operators to lay off staff.”
Lam quoted the employees as saying that five of the city’s six gaming operators had already begun dismissing local employees.
The Macau government has yet to respond to Lam’s allegations.
The latest official data showed that about 71,600 people, including both local and non-local workers, were employed in the gaming industry in the fourth quarter of 2024.
There was a 6.2 percent increase year-on-year but still 15.9 percent below the pre-Covid level of 85,100 in the same period of 2019.
“With Macau’s economy yet to fully recover, only gaming operators have rebounded quickly and returned to profitability, employing over 27,000 non-resident workers as of June 2024,” Lam said.
“Against this backdrop, if the six gaming operators actively terminate local employees’ contracts without reasonable justification, not only will this be unacceptable to the community, but it will also set a dangerous precedent.”
“This will further exacerbate Macau’s already dire employment situation,” he continued. “The Macau government must take proactive steps to thoroughly investigate the issue and put an end to the practice.”
The legislator reminded that one of the key obligations for the six operators under their renewed 10-year gaming licences—effective from 2023—is to safeguard labour rights.
“The government must clarify why gaming operators are being allowed to lay off local employees without offering any job alternatives,” he added.
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