HELPING POGO WORKERS. DOLE-National Capital Region Assistant Directors Jude Thomas Trayvilla (right) and Olivia Obrero-Samson (center) grace the "Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas" forum at the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) auditorium in Quezon City on Tuesday (Sept. 17, 2024). DOLE-NCR officials announced that a special job fair for over 19,000 displaced POGO workers would be held on Oct. 10. (PNA photo by Ben Briones)
MANILA – A job fair for displaced workers of internet gaming licensees (IGLs), formerly known as Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs), is slated next month, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said Tuesday.
During the "Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas" forum, DOLE-National Capital Region Assistant Director Jude Thomas Trayvilla said the special job fair would be held in Parañaque City on Oct. 10.
He also reported that over 19,000 workers will be displaced from these companies that have ceased operations this year.
“As of Sept. 16, 48 IGLs nakapagbigay ng listahan ng Filipino employees na maapektuhan ng kanilang pagsasara, 19,341 empleyado karamihan sa kanila kumikita (48 IGLs have already furnished a list of Filipino employees who may be affected by their closure. We have a total of 19,341 employees and most of them are earning) between PHP16,000 to PHP22,000,” Trayvilla said.
He added these employees are working in administration, encoding, human resources, liaison, finance, and information technology, among others.
“Sa ngayon ang DOLE-NCR ay patuloy pa rin na follow up sa mga natititrang establishments para makuha ang kanilang listahan sa lalong madaling panahon (For now, the DOLE-NCR is making a follow-up with the remaining establishments for us to get their list of employees at the soonest possible time),” the DOLE-NCR official said.
Meanwhile, DOLE-NCR Assistant Director Olivia Obrero-Samson also reported that an initial 70 employers are expected to participate in the job fair to be held at the Ayala Malls Manila Bay along Diosdado Macapagal Boulevard.
The job fair is organized in coordination with the Public Employment Services Office (PESO) of the local government unit.
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has given POGO companies until the end of 2024 to cease their operations. (PNA)
