In an effort to move more Macau citizens into management-level positions, Economic and Financial Secretary Tam Pak Yuen said beginning in 2009, the government will no longer accept applications for foreign workers to serve as supervisors in casinos, encouraging the promotion of native dealers.

Applications for foreign construction workers will be immediately halted and a review of workers currently employed by construction companies will be undertaken. The aim is to provide more high-paying construction jobs for Macau residents. Numbers of non-resident security guards and cleaning workers also will be cut in half in the next year, says Tam.

While Tam admitted that unemployment in Macau is low by international standards, he said his desire is to keep the city’s unemployment rate at less than 4 percent as the global economic downturn starts to impact Macau.

Director of Labor Affairs Shuen Ka Hung says training courses will be established by the government to teach dealers supervisory skills, including foreign language skills.

By GGB Staff

Staff writers for Global Gaming Business magazine. Las Vegas, Nevada.