Gaming shuttles for imported labour on the road

2014/11/26

From:Macau Business

The Transport Bureau (DSAT) said on Monday that three gaming operators are already providing shuttle buses for their own imported labour to relieve the pressure on the public bus service. The capacity of these shuttle buses, according to the acting director of the Bureau, Chiang Ngoc Vai, reached 2,000 persons during the daytime, while 1,600 persons use them at night in the peak hours.
Attending an oral interpellation session at the Legislative Assembly, Mr. Chiang said that the government is also discussing with gaming corporations about integrating the routes of their gaming buses, which currently drive residents and tourists between casinos and various borders. In addition, they are discussing adjusting the time of the operations of these buses.
Meanwhile, legislator Angela Leong On Kei – also executive director of gaming operator SJM Holdings Ltd – said during the session that casino gaming buses are actually helping [relieve] traffic pressure, claiming the situation would be worse without them. Mr. Chiang said he agreed with the legislator’s perspective but indicated that these buses had to be supervised by the government.
In fact, in addition to offering transportation to non-resident workers, the gaming corporations may have to provide accommodation for such workers in the future, as Chief Executive Fernando Chui Sai On stated in his political manifesto for his new term. He said at the time that the gaming operators should take more social responsibility such as providing accommodation as well as transportation for imported labour.
Although there is no information so far on how the CE wants the gaming operators to provide accommodation, it is very likely that all these ‘requirements’ may present more challenges to the gaming operators, particularly with gaming revenues dropping for five consecutive months whilst labour costs have climbed.
Following the first wave of gaming workers’ protests against their employers for better remuneration in July and August, Credit Sussie and Deutsche Bank both estimated that the operators will face a hike in staff expenses in the coming years.
Credit Suisse predicted that labour costs will increase by 8 to 10 per cent in 2015, while Deutsche Bank forecast that staff costs will increase by between 10 per cent and 15 percent per annum from 2014-17.

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