More than 200 employees of casinos and gaming halls in Salta Province, Argentina, are facing a prolonged labor crisis marked by delayed wage payments, unpaid holiday bonuses and irregular employer contributions to health and social security programs, according to union representatives.
The situation involves workers employed across multiple venues operated under a provincial concession by a joint business entity formed by New Star and SIGAR.
Union leaders state that the problem is not limited to isolated delays but reflects a pattern of late and partial payments that has persisted for more than a year. In several cases, employees reported receiving only portions of their salaries during the month or experiencing full payment delays extending into subsequent pay periods.
The union also indicated that lapses in employer contributions have left workers with interruptions in medical coverage and incomplete pension records.
The crisis affects casinos and gaming halls in Salta Capital as well as venues in interior municipalities, with some locations experiencing more severe arrears. Worker representatives said the situation has generated significant financial uncertainty for affected staff and has led to increasing pressure on authorities to intervene.
Union officials reported that they have held discussions with the provincial Ministry of Labor and the local gaming regulator. However, they maintain that the measures adopted to date have not resolved underlying payroll and compliance issues.
The union is now calling for direct enforcement action from the provincial authority responsible for supervising casino concessions to ensure that operators comply with labor regulations and payment obligations.
Union representatives emphasized that the situation is linked to management decisions by the concessionaire rather than to broader market or industry conditions. They also noted that the casino operating license in Salta was extended in recent years, and argued that regulatory oversight should include mechanisms to safeguard employment, wages and benefits throughout the concession period.
The dispute highlights the growing intersection between labor relations, operational continuity and regulatory oversight within Argentina's gaming sector, as stakeholders work toward a resolution that addresses wage arrears and restores full employment benefits for affected casino and gaming hall workers in the province.
The casino concession in Salta was originally granted by provincial decree in 2014 and was extended for an additional 10 years in 2022, giving the current operator a long-term license to manage gaming venues in the province
