In cooperation with the six gaming operators, the Labor Affairs Bureau of Macau will hold six job matching sessions that provide residents more than 1.400 jobs.

Macau has made it plainly clear that the new concession attribution was all about maintaining current employment, with a Secretary outing the goods without any remorse for further contenders.

Macau’s government continues to reassure that the employment of their gaming-linked employees is their main preoccupation with the Secretary for Economy and Finance saying that such employment is “the highest priority” under the new gaming concessi

Macau’s government is planning to maintain its zero-COVID policy and be ‘in unanimity’ with the epidemic prevention guidelines of mainland China, while simultaneously expecting that the SAR’s gaming sector delivers revenues which will equate to ‘not less than 40 percent’ of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Macau unemployment rate rose to 5.4% owing to junket closure and suspension of most industrial and commercial activities during the “relatively static” period amid the latest wave of the pandemic. 

Macau's amended gaming law has passed its first reading in the Legislative Assembly, although representatives expressed concern about the future of satellite casinos and their employees.

Macau Labor Affairs Bureau (DSAL) deputy director believes there will be fewer blue-card holders in Macau if the unemployment rate continues to rise. The last time unemployment was this high was around 2009-2011, shortly after the global financial crisis. Chan added that some industries will suffer more than others. 

Macau legislator José Pereira Coutinho has called on the city’s Chief Executive to take action against what he described as “collusion” between casinos and those responsible for regulating the gambling sector, in order to stop employment abuses.

Average earnings of full-time employees in the Macau gaming industry in December were MOP25,290 ($3,138), up by 6.8 percent year-on-year. This figure has already surpassed the MOP24,640 ($3,058) reported in 4Q19.

Australia's gaming crackdown continues, with The Star facing a new inquiry which is "unimaginable" considering its recently renegotiated terms for employment and cashless gaming at its Sydney casino, notes an expert. In addition, Macau's Chinese New Year revenues continue to impress, but market share gets further divied up.