At least six local employees from the back-office department of a Macau gaming operator have sought assistance from lawmakers after receiving sudden termination notices on February 28th.
The company, which has not been identified, allegedly provided no explanation for the dismissals or alternative job placement options, raising concerns about unjustified termination.
Macau legislator Lam U Tou, who brought the case to public attention, criticized the gaming operator, stating that the move has significant implications and violates the company’s social responsibility and contractual obligation to prioritize local employment. He urged the government to launch a thorough investigation and intervene to reinstate affected workers.
According to Lam, the dismissed employees reported that similar layoffs have occurred in other departments within the company. They also claimed that since early this year, industry rumors suggested the government had given a “green light” for gaming operators to proceed with layoffs. Five of the six concessionaires have allegedly begun dismissing non-gaming staff, leaving only one yet to take action.
Lam highlighted that, while Macau’s tourism and gaming industries have rebounded post-pandemic, the broader local economy remains weak. Small and medium-sized enterprises continue to struggle, and employment opportunities for local residents are shrinking.
Despite the rapid recovery of gaming operators—many of which are now profitable—these companies still employed over 27,000 non-resident workers as of June 2024.
Given this, Lam argued that the ongoing dismissals of local employees without valid justification are not only socially unacceptable but also set a dangerous precedent, exacerbating Macau’s already fragile job market.
He called on the government to take immediate action, investigate the matter, and explain why gaming operators are being allowed to lay off local staff without offering alternative job placements.
