MGM China has announced two bonuses for eligible staff, including a discretionary bonus and a special bonus, which will see them earn up to 14 months’ worth of their normal salary for 2017.
The boost comes amid tensions between MGM and some frontline workers following a demonstration outside MGM Cotai early last week, organized by the New Macau Gaming Staff Rights Association, to protest pay adjustments and the use of a Casino Chip Attribution System (CCAS) in MGM’s new gaming chips. Macau News Agency also reported that a group of the workers delivered a petition to the Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau demanding an investigation into potential health risks associated with use of the CCAS.
MGM’s discretionary bonus is equal to one month’s salary and will be paid in two equal installments in February 2018. In addition to the discretionary bonus, a special bonus equivalent to a 14th month of salary will be paid in July 2018 to recognize all eligible team members of MGM Macau and MGM Cotai “for their efforts in maintaining MGM Macau’s smooth operation while supporting the opening of MGM Cotai,” the company said.
MGM had previously denied there was any potential danger arising from the use of chips or tables fitted with CCAS technology, pointing out that any energy released was minimal and substantially less than that released by mobile phones.
“The past year has been a year full of new experiences and demands which we have conquered as a team,” explained MGM China CEO and Executive Director Grant Bowie. “These bonuses are our appreciation and recognition to our team members for their hard work, contribution and commitment to MGM.”
MGM also announced recently that the opening of its new MGM Cotai integrated resort had been delayed until an unspecified date in February, having previously been scheduled to open on 29 January. Inside Asian Gaming has been reliably informed that MGM Cotai was finished and ready for launch in late January but is still awaiting key hotel licenses from the Macau Government Tourism Office.