The Secretary for Economy and Finance, Lei Wai Nong, has stated that so far gaming operators have not conducted mass layoffs due to the crisis.
Speaking yesterday after a Standing Committee for the Co-ordination of Social Affairs (CPCS) meeting, the Secretary stated the government had required for gambling operators to guarantee employment in this difficult circumstances and noted that there have been some isolated lay-off cases but prompted by work violations committed by the workers.
The first three months of the year reported MOP30.4 billion in accumulated gaming results, a 60 per cent year-on-year decrease, with the Covid-19 epidemic taking a considerable toll in the local gaming sector.
Lei considered that the reductions was within estimations, and noted that when the situation stabilizes, Macau will be able to take the initiative and request the country’s authorities to resume issuing of individual travel visas thus allowing to the market to return to normality.
However, the Secretary also revealed that up to April 1 the Labour Affairs Bureau revealed received a total of 27 wage reduction notifications, involving 417 employees from 19 companies, with the main sectors involved being wholesale and retail, followed by transport, communications and storage.
Some 1,100 applications for unemployment certificates were also received during the same period, an increase from previous years but with the Secretary not considering it a sign that there is a wave of lay-offs in the city.
