In a statement issued just before the new year, Macau’s casino regulator pledged that he would safeguard the health of those employed within the casinos in the city. This included requiring local operators to submit test reports conducted independently as well as by a third-party personnel.
This comes amid growing concern from several working within the facilities about potential health risks faced from coming in contact with people from across the globe. In April, there was a concern of a potential rubella outbreak when it was discovered that 24 employees working at the City of Dreams Cotia and StarWorld Hotel were reported to have contracted the illness.
However, the Health Bureau in Macau conducted thorough testing of employees as well as the casinos to ensure that no potential health risk existed. There has been no report of substantial numbers of cases since.
This has not alleviated the fears of some. An activist with the local gaming labor group New Macau Gaming Staff Rights Association recently expressed his concerns about the health issues related to the gaming operations. Specifically, concerns were raised about the “casino chip attribution system,” which the activist expressed concern about health issues for casino dealers.
The groups concerns are not only about chips being touched and passed by patrons who may have an illness, but also about the radio-frequency identification (RFID) signals that are used within the chips. These factors, the union group explained, posed a potential health risk to employees.
Despite the concerns, the Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau, also known as the DICJ, issued a statement on Tuesday explaining that there are no potential health risks involved in their systems. They also expressed a deep concern for their employees, explaining that they attach “great importance to casino worker’s health.” They added that they are dedicated to following the proper safety standards to ensure that employees are protected.
The gaming regulator also looked to alleviate fears, issuing a statement of his own. In the statement, the regulator added, “Apart from assisting the relevant government departments in conducting regular checks on workplace safety compliance, the bureau also requires casino operators to submit independent, third-party test reports of the gaming facilities when approving such installations.”
A rally was held on January 2 to bring these issues to light. It is believed that 290 people took part in the march, demanding that the third-party tests be made public to ensure that all staff is made aware of any potential risks.
