The Macau Metro Monitor, March 20, 2012

LABOUR CHIEF REPLACEMENT MAY OPEN THE DOOR FOR IMPORTED WORKERS Macau Daily Times

The government announced the replacement of current Director of Labour Affairs Bureau (DSAL) Shuen Ka Hung, by Wong Chi Hong, the head of the Human Resources Office (GRH). Apparently Shuen’s performance fell short of the Chief Executive’s expectations, and the speculation is that there will be a change of labour policies to rely more on imported workers.    


The Secretary for Economy and Finance, Tam Pak Yuen said it is the government's top priority to improve the quality of local workers to help resolve the bottleneck situation in Macau’s economic development.

OKADA'S ROOM GIFT NO CRIME: TRAVEL EXEC Macau Daily Times

In defense of Okada's room comps Robert Lim Joseph, the chairman emeritus of the Philippines’ National Association of Independent Travel Agencies (NAITAS) told reporters, “the hotel accommodations, even if they were first-class and other freebies are very common in the industry.  Of course, when gaming officials go here, we also would give them the best. We will not place them in a cheap hotel. It would always be first-class accommodations.”

The Chairman saw no reason to charge with Pagcor chairman Cristino Naguiat of wrong doing since Okada’s gaming license had already been approved before Naguiat travelled to Macau. “So there’s more reason to dismiss allegations that Naguiat was bribed to allow Okada to operate his business in the country,” Joseph said.

PAC ON MAY HAVE 3 NEW ROUTES TO HK AND MAINLAND Macau Daily Times

Within 2 weeks, the Maritime Administration will decide whether to add new routes proposed in 3 applications for new ferry operations in Pac On Ferry Pier.  The new routes would depart from Taipa, to Zhuhai’s Wanzai, Hong Kong’s Sheung Wan and Shenzhen’s Shekou.  There are currently eight ferry routes that depart from Taipa’s Pac On temporary ferry terminal, to Hong Kong and nearby Mainland cities.

14.5% OF MACAU'S WORKING POPULATION WORKS IN GAMING SECTOR AT END OF 2011 Macau Hub

At December 31, 2011 there were over 50,000 Macau residents working in the gaming sector, representing a 12% increase QoQ, according to DSEC Manpower Survey released yesterday.  Almost half of those employees - or 22k worked as croupiers, a figure that also rose 16.7% QoQ.  

In December 2011 the average monthly salary for full-time workers (excluding bonuses and profit sharing) working in casinos was 16,720 patacas, (US$2,090), up 6.5% YoY, whilst that of croupiers was 14,700 patacas (US$1,837). In December there were more than 2,000 vacancies for casino positions of which 1,500 were for croupiers.