Following the mass layoffs that, according to union information, exceed 400—despite the company's reports of 180 layoffs— Melco Resorts & Entertainment Ltd, the owner of the 'City of Dreams Mediterranean' casino resort in Limassol, is taking further actions against the foreign nationals who were let go. Recently, they were given an ultimatum to vacate the accommodations provided to them as part of their employment agreement, which was initially set for at least two years, yet they were dismissed around six months in.

Regarding serious labor issues at the casino and other matters concerning hotel employees, a meeting has been scheduled for today, Monday, 11/12, between the Minister of Labor, Yiannis Panagiotou, and the Hotel Employees Unions SEK and PEO.

The unions are awaiting the Labor Minister's report on actions taken regarding the layoffs, the broader labor issues arising at the casino, and the crucial issue of union access denial to the hotel premises. This denial seems to have been pivotal in creating these labor problems since the casino's initial months of operation. It should be noted that the Department of Labor Relations of the Ministry of Labor, in a letter to the International Labour Organization (ILO), has sought clarifications on the issue of denying trade union organizations access to the casino. Regardless of the ILO's response, the unions are expecting substantial intervention by the Labor Minister on this specific issue, as he had committed to on the day of the casino's inauguration.

As for the issue of the Provident Fund and the casino's actions towards its employees, which Brief previously reported on, no new developments have emerged for the time being.

As FastForward reported approximately one month ago, for the third quarter of 2023, Melco's Cyprus Casinos saw total operating revenues climb to US$53.4 million, up from US$24.8 million in the same quarter of the previous year. The Adjusted EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization) for the Cyprus Casinos stands at US$7.2 million for the quarter, slightly up from US$6.7 million in 2023.