MGM employees fight for pay equity
Sands China Ltd. has promised salary upgrades for 2018 that will benefit about 99 percent of its employees. Wynn Macau will hand out bonuses, and SJM Holdings Ltd. also has promised its workers a little something extra in their pay packets.
But the New Macau Gaming Professionals Association recently protested outside MGM in Nape last month, claiming that company does not practice parity in distributing raises and bonuses to employees.
Macau Business reported that senior staff receive the equivalent of three months’ salary as a bonus, but frontline workers only get one month’s salary. The Macau Post Daily reported that some protesters wore lion masks—as in the famous MGM trademark—to conceal their identities.
A petition with 1,588 signatures was submitted to the company at its Cotai property to express workers’ dissatisfaction with salary adjustments. Cloee Chao, president of the New Macau Gaming Staff Rights Association, said the workers want a 14-month salary and an end to the Casino Chip Attribution System, which may expose workers to “unknown electrical technology use” and purportedly causes symptoms like respiratory distress.
“If the company fails to meet the demands made by workers prior to the opening of MGM Cotai, aside from sitting in, workers who are on shifts might also take necessary actions,” Chao said.
Raises for employees at Sands China properties will kick in on March 1. Full-time employees will see before-tax increases of 2.5 percent to 5 percent. This equates to MOP$600 (US$75) for those earning monthly salaries less than or equal to MOP$12,000 (US$150). Those making more will receive an average pay raise of 2.5 percent. This month, Sands China will also pay discretionary bonuses equal to one month’s salary to all qualified workers. The bonus will be paid to around 28,000 staff.
Sands China President Wilfred Wong said the bonuses are an acknowledgment of “Sands China’s spirit of teamwork.” He said that spirit “was fully demonstrated in 2017, a year in which Typhoon Hato brought many challenges to our operations. But with our effective teamwork, we not only continued to deliver unparalleled service experiences to our guests, but also helped restore normality across Macau through various disaster relief efforts.
“The future looks promising for us and I am confident that with the continued dedication of our team members, 2018 will be a year of success and fulfillment,” he said.
Sands China recently announced that net income for 2017 was up 31.1 per cent year-on-year to US$1.60 billion, reported Macau Business.
Wynn Macau Ltd. announced in January that it will award “winter bonuses” equal to one month’s gross salary to all eligible employees, excluding senior management. And SJM has awarded a bonus called a “living subsidy” for 2018.
