Briefs | Gaming – MGM announces wage hikes

MGM China Holdings Ltd. announced on Friday that salary increases would be granted to its team members, effective March 23. The company said in a statement that due to rising living costs in Macau, non-management team members whose salaries are set at MOP12,000 or lower will be granted a standard raise of MOP700 per month, equivalent to an increase of between 6 and 8 percent. For team members earning above MOP12,000 per month, the salary increase will be set at 5 percent. The operator added that the salary increase adds to the two-month equivalent discretionary and special bonuses that were announced in February.

Sands China proposes final dividend

Sands China Ltd. has recommended the payment of a final dividend of HKD1 per share for 2014, the company said in a statement. The payment of the final dividend is subject to the approval of the company’s shareholders during the upcoming annual general meeting, scheduled for June 17. The statement indicated that if the payment is approved by shareholders, the dividend is expected to be paid on July 15.

More illegal entries busted in joint operation

Macao Customs officers, in collaboration with the mainland police, have cracked three cases of illegal immigration and arrested 14 Vietnamese illegal migrants. The joint operation was conducted last week at the seaside facing the Jockey Club at Taipa. In these cases, the authorities’ joint surveillance found several men sneaking into Macau by swimming, before the Customs’ patrol speedboats were called in to assist with the search. All the arrested suspects claimed that they had swum from Hengqin Island across to the shore, and that their purpose of entry into Macau was to find jobs. During the joint operation, the mainland police also apprehended twelve cases of intended illegal entry into Macau at the border crossings of Hengqin and Gongbei. A total of 41 Vietnamese and seven mainland Chinese suspects were intercepted as they were readying to enter Macau illegally. Macao Customs said that migrant smuggling had been spotted at the mentioned locations multiple times. Thus, the authorities have reinforced patrols at those spots, and will keep close contact with the mainland’s border immigration department.