A Macau legislator is calling for large companies outside the gaming industry to adopt recruitment policies similar to those applied for casino operators.
This initiative, pushed forward by Leong Sun Iok, a legislator from the Federation of Macau Workers’ Association, aims to align with the government’s target that residents of Macau fill at least 85 percent of management positions in gaming establishments.
In a recent interview with Exmoo newspaper, Leong emphasized that the Government should encourage businesses across various sectors to prioritize local talent, particularly for high-paying jobs.
In gaming concessionaires, the proportion of local professionals in middle or senior management positions was around 90 percent last year.
According to the Statistics and Census Service, management professionals in the gaming sector saw their earnings rise by 22.2 percent annually in 2024, achieving an average salary of MOP68,900 ($8,617).
Leong argued that the Executive should facilitate career advancement for local residents and improve access to better-paying positions, asserting that the responsibility for social welfare should not rest solely on gaming companies.
Despite Macau’s low unemployment rate, Leong noted that securing well-paying jobs remains a challenge for many locals.
Leong also addressed concerns regarding the workforce in the gaming sector, revealing that by the end of 2024, the total number of employees in gaming companies stood at 52,971. Although this figure reflects an annual increase of 1,200 workers, it marks a significant decline from 2019, when the workforce totaled 58,225.
This gap raises questions, particularly in light of the reported shortage of human resources in the sector. Leong noted that many workers are often required to work overtime, which he attributes to a modest salary increase of 2.5 percent last year.
Additionally, Leong highlighted the need for government intervention to facilitate the entry of newly graduated youths into the job market. He stressed that social responsibility should extend beyond gaming operators, especially when young, inexperienced individuals are denied job opportunities.
