Secretary for Economy and Finance Lei Wai Nong said yesterday he believed that the termination of junket operator Sun City Gaming Promotion Company Limited’s business operations would adversely affect the unemployment rate “more or less”.
Lei pledged that the government will continue to provide support for the affected employees in need.
Lei made the remarks while speaking to reporters after chairing a regular closed-door meeting of the Standing Council on Social Concerted Action at the Services Platform Complex for Commercial and Trade Cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries (PSCs) in Nam Van.
The Standing Council on Social Concerted Action, a government-appointed consultative body tasked with advising the government on its labour policies, consists of five business sector representatives and five labour representatives, as well as a number of government officials.
Lei remarks came after the junket operator announced on Friday the immediate termination of its business, a story of which was published in the paper version of The Macau Post Daily yesterday.
The Labour Affairs Bureau (DSAL) yesterday started running special counters at one of its facilities, which is located in Tai Peng Industrial Building near the Barrier Gate checkpoint, to provide support services for employees of Sun City Gaming Promotion Company Limited. The special counters, which run from 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. daily, provide services such as legal consultancy on labour rights, job seeking, and information on occupational training, according to a DSAL statement on Sunday.
According to a DSAL statement last night, as of 5 p.m. yesterday, 25 people had sought legal advice on labour rights at the special counters, while 48 submitted complaints concerning matters such as unpaid wages, compensation for dismissal and holidays. According to the statement, 23 registered with the bureau’s job-seeking service, but one of them did not work for Sun City. In addition, 15 ex-Sun City staff asked for information on occupational training courses provided by the bureau, eight of whom enrolled in the bureau’s courses.
Speaking to reporters yesterday, Lei reassured the public that the termination of business operations by a junket operator will not affect staff who had worked in the junket operator’s respective VIP rooms as they are actually employed by the respective casino operators, such as table game dealers, supervisors, and security guards.
For employees who were directly hired by the junket operator such as drivers and gaming hosts (aka public relations staff), Lei said, the junket operator must fulfil their responsibility to protect labour rights
Lei also underlined that the government has been in constant talks with Sun City urging it to ensure the protection of its employees’ labour rights.
The policy secretary said that the Labour Affairs Bureau, which he oversees, will continue its work to support the affected employees.
Lei noted that local residents’ latest unemployment rate stands at around 3.8 percent, adding he believed that the Sun City incident would adversely affect the city’s unemployment rate “more or less”.
Lei called for civil society to work together with the government to fight the ongoing economic difficulties.
Lei pledged that the government will continue its work to boost the economy so as to protect local residents’ employment in two aspects, namely to expand its investments in public infrastructure projects and to attract visitors from more destinations.
Since the COVID-19 pandemic early last year, mainlanders have accounted for over 90 percent of visitors arrivals to Macau.
The policy secretary also said he disagreed with some views from civil society that the Sun City incident was a hard blow to Macau’s gaming industry.
Sun City went belly up after its sole owner, junket mogul Alvin Chau Cheok Wa, was remanded in custody late last month for alleged organised crime, money laundering and illegal gambling operations. He is and his alleged 10 accomplices face up to 12 years behind bars.
Secretary for Economy and Finance Lei Wai Nong talks to reporters at the Services Platform Complex for Commercial and Trade Cooperation between China and PSCs yesterday. Photo: GCS
