Table dealers fear wave of layoffs following mid-term review

Saturday 12th of March 2016

Macau’s casino labor group, Forefront of Macao Gaming says some of its table dealer members are worried about a potential wave of layoffs due to the city’s declining gaming industry, local media reports.

According to recent statistics from Manpower Needs and Wages of the Gaming Sector which covered the fourth quarter of 2015, the gaming sector saw a 2.6 decline in full-time employees year on year, with the number of dealers down 4.4 compared to 2014. Job vacancies were down drastically, with job vacancies totalling 462 at the end of the quarter, down by 379 year on year and a total of 376 new employees were hired, down 80 percent from 1,968 in the same quarter in 2014.

Lei Kuok Keong, vice president of the labor group said he believes Macau’s casino operators have avoided making large labor changes during the mid-term review, but says now that the review is complete, there will be higher pressure to cut down operational costs.

Against a background of falling casino gaming revenue, labor groups have said there is now an oversupply of qualified dealers in the market, and a large reduction of trainee dealers given the uncertain employment prospects.

Recently, Sands China launched a new career development programme for 1000 of its staff, offering them alternative jobs in non-gaming areas of its properties, according to a press release from the company.

The programme, entitled “My Way” will allow participating staff to work in several non-gaming areas, including food and beverage, security, business development, wardrobe, guest relations, housekeeping, and facilities.