tony's crew use their "influence" on the construction firm building the esplanade to get a contract to provide (eg) 20 labourers at the site at $200 a day. These are surplus to requirements so they get 6 guys to sit around on site to give the impression they are fulfilling their contract - the other 14 are "no shows" ie people not required to show up - tony gets paid at $4,000 a day for labourers and gives his 6 guys a share of that money for sitting around and keeps the rest.