A respected Macau gaming industry academic has warned against rushing locals into upper and middle management positions after the city’s Labor Affairs Bureau announced last week that it would not renew work permits for some high-ranking foreigners.
Bureau Director Wong Chi Hong told a plenary session at the Legislative Assembly that he would look to raise the minimum level of local workers in managerial positions in Macau’s gaming industry to 85 percent by the end of 2017 – three years sooner than his original plan of 2020.
But Professor Glenn McCartney, Associate Professor in Hospitality and Gaming Management at the Faculty of Business Administration, University of Macau, says any such quota will only work if locals are given access to and time for better training.
“In principle, I firmly believe as part of responsible tourism development that locals should receive adequate training and education to elevate themselves to senior levels within the industry,” said Professor McCartney, who teaches undergraduate, postgraduate and executive leadership courses for the gaming and hospitality industry.
“But in line with this, there should be a very clear process with a training and education programme that is appropriate to achieving this. The training must be geared to producing the skills and knowledge to lead at this level. The courses also should be part of an overall labour strategy for Macau.
“At a broader level, Macao and the Cotai Strip is now more challenged than ever to elevate itself competitively in the region and having a skilled workforce will be a crucial part of this development in the long term … the student must also realize the dedication and commitment needed.
“It’s not an instant process but one that will take some years. It involves not only knowledge and skill, but in understanding the attributes and attitudes that middle to senior management need to have to lead. This takes time.”
Mr Wong stated last week that, “The government hopes that in 2017 this percentage will hit 85 per cent when it comes to local managers and top executives. It seems there are over 100 non-local workers on resort facility management. And we have already told the gaming companies we will not renew those work permits.”
