Hotel and casino giant MGM Resorts on Friday said 18,000 furloughed employees in the United States would be permanently laid off as the hospitality industry struggles amid the coronavirus pandemic. "Federal law requires companies to provide a date of separation for furloughed employees who are not recalled within six months," CEO Bill Hornbuckle said in a letter seen by AFP. "Regrettably, August 31, marks the date of separation for thousands of MGM Resorts employees whom we have not yet been able to bring back." jum-cs/ft