Local workers in violent protests against Macau casinos

Calcutta News.Net
Tuesday 1st May, 2007

The proliferation of casinos in the Chinese province of Macau has not led to commensurate job opportunities for Macau people.

The result: Protests against the casinos and the Macau government. A May Day march on Tuesday turned violent as protestors clashed with police. Shots were fired by police and dogs were put on protestors to get them to disperse.

Major global casino operators have swooped on the tiny former Portuguese colony to establish multi-billion dollar casino, hotel and resort developments. Attracted by a massive demand by Asians for gambling facilities, the operators have poured billions into the province. The development has been so huge that last year, Macau overtook Las Vegas in total casino revenues collected.

The local population however has not shared in the success with Macau workers, they say, being denied jobs. It appears the casinos are importing cheaper labour from the mainland mainly but also from other Asian countries such as the Philippines, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and India. 'The government is rich, the casinos are rich, but nobody is looking out for the Macau people,' one protestor told the AFP news agency.

'We are displeased with the labour crisis and the government's lack of action in dealing with it,' Ho Hen Kuok, president of the Macau Labour Union said. 'We don't want to see illegal labour being given jobs.'

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