GGRAsia – Labour group to petition Macau Chief Exec over Melco

Labour group to petition Macau Chief Exec over Melco

Aug 15, 2018 Newsdesk Latest News, Macau, Top of the deck

A Macau gaming labour group says it is to present on Tuesday a petition for the attention of the city’s Chief Executive, Fernando Chui Sai On, regarding what it asserts is an unresolved pay and conditions dispute with Macau casino operator Melco Resorts and Entertainment Ltd.

The New Macau Gaming Staff Rights Association – formerly known as Professional for Gaming of New Macau – stated in a social media post it would deliver the petition to Government Headquarters (pictured).

Earlier this month the labour group organised two protest marches in succession, urging Melco Resorts to pay what it termed a “summer bonus” to staff, in line with the practice of some other Macau operators. The labour group had also called for Melco Resorts to base its employer contribution to the city’s provident fund scheme not on employees’ base salary but on what it termed “full” salary. The activist group additionally wanted that it termed improvements to “occupational health and safety”.

Melco Resorts said in a statement emailed to GGRAsia on Tuesday, referring to several other Macau labour organisations: “We have had meetings with Macau Federation of Trade Unions (FAOM) and Macau Gaming Enterprises Staff’s Association (MGESA), and have been in discussion with these associations regarding the additional bonus, contribution to the provident fund and offer of seats at gaming tables.”

The latter was a response to complaints from workers saying some table dealers were being required to stand while doing their jobs.

Melco Resorts’ statement added: “Melco responded positively during a meeting with Lee Chong Cheng, vice president of the FAOM and Choi Kam Fu, secretary-general of the MGESA, on August 10.”

New Macau Gaming Staff Rights Association gave a different perspective on the situation.

“It is unfortunate that the company is not giving any positive feedback to the employees, but only disclosing information through certain community and media groups,” it said in a posting.

“The company says it is discussing with the government how to distribute the bonus. How can this discussion last for over six months without any results?” added New Macau Gaming Staff Rights Association, quoting what it said was comment from its membership.

Last month, the same labour group organised a petition among staff at Macau casino operator Galaxy Entertainment Group Ltd urging the firm to issue a “summer bonus” to employees. The firm later announced a “one-off special discretionary bonus” equal to one month of base salary and guaranteed tips (if applicable), payable to “97 percent” of its non-management employees, namely those at senior manager level or below.

On July 13, casino operator Wynn Macau Ltd stated it was offering most of its staff a “special bonus” equal to one month of gross salary, with the gratuity payable on August 15. Earlier, in June, Macau casino operator Sands China Ltd said it was to pay on August 31 what it termed a “one-off special bonus” equivalent to one month’s salary, to eligible full-time workers of “qualifying grades”.

Rival Macau operator MGM China Holdings Ltd announced in February the issuing of a discretionary bonus, plus a “special bonus”, the latter equivalent to a 14th-month salary for eligible non-management team members.