Macau Encounters Labor Crunch

As reported by Xinhua: "Macau is facing a labor shortage due to the booming casino industry.

"...Two casino hotels — one to open this month and another in March — need a combined 7,000 employees. That represents 70 percent of the enclave's total population without a job.

"Sixty influential entrepreneurs complained to He Xiaowei, deputy director of the Liaison Office of the Central Government in Macau, on Monday that the gaming business was too aggressive in its recruiting practices.

"The gross receipts of Macau's gaming and betting sector reached a record 46 billion patacas (US$575 million) in 2005, a year-on-year rise of 9 percent.

"...The government of the Macau Special Administrative Region has long imposed tight restrictions on the employment of people from overseas — including the mainland and Hong Kong residents..."