Philippines organises job fair for displaced POGO workers

Jenny Ortiz September 18, 2024

The Department of Labour and Employment (DOLE) is gearing up to support nearly 20,000 Filipino workers set to lose their jobs due to the anticipated shutdown of all Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) firms by the end of the year.

DOLE-National Capital Region’s (NCR) Assistant Regional Director Jude Trayvilla announced that a special job fair will be held at Ayala Mall Manila Bay in Parañaque City. In preparation, DOLE-NCR has been profiling Filipino employees working in POGO companies to ensure efficient job placement. As of mid-September, 48 Internet Gaming Licensees (IGLs) have submitted lists of employees, revealing that 19,341 Filipinos will be impacted by these closures.

The affected employees are primarily involved in administrative work, data encoding, finance, information technology, and housekeeping. Their salaries typically range between PHP16,000 and PHP22,000 (€258 to €355) per month. DOLE-NCR has mapped the locations of these workers to enhance the efficiency of its job-matching services.

Government programmes and support

Alongside the job fair, DOLE-NCR is extending emergency employment assistance and offering various livelihood programmes to affected workers. Trayvilla highlighted the government’s commitment to ensuring a smooth transition for displaced POGO employees into new employment opportunities. According to Olivia Samson, another assistant regional director at DOLE-NCR, over 70 employers have already committed to participating in the job fair, with more expected to join as the event approaches. The first job fair is scheduled for 10 October, with additional events planned to accommodate ongoing demand.

Aid for other affected workers

Beyond POGO employees, DOLE is also extending assistance to workers impacted by the closure of Sofitel Philippine Plaza. Samson confirmed that over 300 applications for livelihood grants have been submitted, with 100 currently being processed.

Labour Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma stressed that the government’s primary assistance will go to legally employed workers under IGLs, which have replaced the previous POGO framework. This shift, initiated by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), signals a rebranding of the country’s gaming industry structure.