The group’s eight candidates announced their political platform during a press conference at the joint office of grassroots lawmakers Ng Kuok Cheong and Au Kam San in Iao Hon.
The group, No. 25 on the September 17 ballot, is led by high-profile activist Cloee Chao Sao Fong, who heads the New Macau Gaming Workers’ Rights Union.
Chao said her group was calling for some benefits for casino workers to be equal to those enjoyed by public servants, namely five days paid paternity leave, 90 days paid maternity leave, 22 days annual leave and five-day working week.
Macau’s female employees working in the private sector have statutory 56 days paid maternity leave, according to the Labour Relations Law.
While the law mandates that private sector employees be given at least six days annual leave, casino workers employed by the city’s six gaming operators as well as other major enterprises’ employees typically enjoy around a dozen days annual leave.
Concerning the proposed five-day working week, Chao said it would mean working 40 hours a week – eight hours a day multiplied by five working days. According to Chao, gaming employees typically work six days a week – 48 hours a week.
Chao said civil society may worry whether the city has enough dealers if the six gaming operators decided to implement a five-day working week for them. She insisted there are some 5,000 locals keen to work as dealers.
“While the official unemployment rate is low, some residents can only get a job based on casual employment contracts, such as those working in catering and banquet services in the gaming sector…they get work when needed,” Chao said.
Chao said her group was also calling for a decrease in the number of non-local workers in unskilled jobs in the gaming sector. She said more than half of the unskilled workers, such as those working in F&B, security and PR departments, are non-resident workers.
Chao said her group was running in the direct election to bring casino workers’ voices to the legislature. She said her group aimed to win at least one seat.
The first-ranked candidate of the Gaming Front Line of Casino Workers, Cloee Chao Sao Fong (left), and the second-ranked candidate, Leong Lei Kan, pose on the sidelines of yesterday’s press conference to announce details of their group’s political platform, at the joint office of grassroots lawmakers Ng Kuok Cheong and Au Kam San in Iao Hon. Photo: Tony Wong
