Once known for the involvement of the triads and a vast money laundering business, Macau has been busy cleaning up its act since the arrival of the Las Vegas operators. There are still untold millions from untold sources causing revenues to sky-rocket but, superficially at least, gambling is regulated without input from the criminal underworld. The economy is booming, unemployment at a record low, but many Macau residents are still not happy with the new order.

Mega casinos have opened and mega resort casinos are being built on the corridor of reclaimed land known as the Cotai Strip. A protest march organised by Macau workers demonstrated this Labour Day against the employers who bring in illegal labourers, mostly from mainland China, to work in the construction industry. There were accusations of corruption and collusion between the government and big business in the Special Administrative Region, and calls for leader Edmund Ho to resign.

The influx of cheaper foreign labour has meant the loss of permanent employment for locals in the construction industry that now offers mostly temporary positions. Macau law does not allow foreign workers to be employed, something that the casino industry is pushing to change as they foresee a massive shortfall in employees when the huge resort casinos open. The protest march was small by western standards but shows that Macau residents are becoming increasingly vocal about their dissatisfaction.

The gaming industry may have brought huge benefits but those in other industries have found that the rapacious advance of casinos has sapped the employment pool and pushed up the cost of accommodation in Macau. Property prices are now beyond most locals and the Cotai Strip is banned from residential development. There is serious money riding on the continued success of Macau as an Asian Las Vegas, but the horizon is not entirely cloud free. (E-05.01.07)

© Copyright 2007 CasinoCompendium



>>> return to archives
>>> return to frontpage