The UNI Gaming global conference got underway this week as nearly ninety trade union leaders from 20 countries met in Macau. Macau is often dubbed the “gaming hub of the world”, with a whopping 25 % of its 400,000 employed population working in the gaming industry.
“Our global conference here in Macau opens a new page in the development of the sector,” said Head of UNI Gaming Giedre Lelyte. “We’ve been trying to organise casino workers in this major gaming destination for years.”
“Today, we not only have a growing affiliate in the New Macao Gaming Staff Rights Association, but we also celebrate the opening of their brand new office which will later become a training center for members. This will undoubtedly build union power in Macau and continue the fight for workers’ rights.”
New Macao Gaming Staff Rights Association has been an incredibly active representative of casino workers in the region. The union has fought hard for worker rights and was instrumental in getting the smoking ban regulations enacted, as well as reaching agreements for a 13th and even 14th month salary for casino workers.
Although the gaming industry is a very specialized one, it is not exempt from one of the biggest issues facing workers everywhere – digitalization. Training, upskilling and preparing for the changes digitalization will bring to casino workers was one of the main focuses of the conference. UNI Gaming is building alliances and networks in the sector to exchange best practices, learning from the experiences of other unions and building worker power all over the world.
