MOP30 billion generated from non-gaming initiatives in 2023

The non-gaming investment plans for 2023 by the city’s six gaming concessionaires generated over MOP30 billion in gross production value for Macau’s economy, according to Secretary for Economy and Finance Anton Tai Kin Ip.

In a plenary session of the Legislative Assembly (AL) yesterday, lawmaker Ron Lam presented an oral inquiry urging the government to strengthen supervision of non-gaming investment plans by gaming concessionaires and implement robust employee protection measures for their workforce.

In response, the Secretary emphasized that the government has consistently maintained clear mechanisms for monitoring both the pre-implementation and post-implementation phases. “The [gaming concession] contract terms also require approved companies to submit detailed annual project implementation reports to the government, which must include information on the specific implementation status, amounts invested, timelines, and outcomes,” he said.

While acknowledging that the government has engaged independent institutions for external audits, Tai did not directly address the specifics of the annual investment plans of the six gaming concessionaires.

When pressed further by Lam, Tai stated that the information provided by licensed companies to the Macau Special Administrative Region government pertains to their expenses and assets.

As the recipient of such information, the government must be cautious; disclosing commercial secrets without prior consent from the rights holders could violate fair competition principles and constitute an infringement of confidentiality under the Commercial Code.

“I believe that upholding fair competition is crucial for enhancing investor confidence in Macau, as well as for improving the business environment and international competitiveness of the Macau Special Administrative Region,” Tai said.

Last year, 451 local residents found employment through the “Employment + Training” special program jointly conducted by the Labour Affairs Bureau (DSAL) and the six local gaming operators. However, two local residents had their contracts terminated during the probationary period for not meeting company requirements.

Lam expressed concerns over whether gaming companies are consistently holding job fairs without actually hiring local residents, instead using these events to secure quotas for non-local workers.

The lawmaker also highlighted that some local residents seeking full-time positions have faced multiple interviews for jobs in the casino industry but ultimately secured only part-time roles through recruitment agency WeChat groups. This situation has resulted in them becoming supplementary labor for non-local workers in the casinos. He questioned whether such practices align with the commitments outlined in the gaming concession contracts to “maintain the employment stability of local employees and create conditions to promote their upward mobility.”

Referring to the approximately 73% increase in the number of foreign employees at the six gaming companies between the end of 2022 and 2024, Lam stated, “You are effectively using a tool that relies on non-local labor, which significantly impacts the lives of local residents.”

He emphasized that the biggest issue currently is the imbalance in employment opportunities, with local residents struggling to secure stable jobs while non-local workers are prioritized.

DSAL director Chan Un Tong explained that in 2022, Macau was still navigating the COVID-19 pandemic.

“During this time, gaming companies generally did not lay off local employees unless they voluntarily resigned or there were adjustments in business operations. Consequently, local employment was largely preserved.”

However, he added, by the end of December 2022, the number of non-local employees had dropped to 154,912, a decrease of 41,626 compared to pre-pandemic levels in 2019.

“As Macau’s economy recovers in 2023, it is essential to appropriately replenish the non-local workforce to meet the demands of the service and tourism sectors,” he noted.

Supplementing Tai’s remarks, Chan highlighted that from last year until April this year, 32 special programs under the “Employment + Training” initiative were launched, with five programs receiving a significant number of applications.

Among these, the business analyst program attracted the most interest, with 455 applicants. Out of these, 20 individuals were hired, with salaries ranging from MOP21,000 to MOP26,000.