The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has started planning its intervention measures in case of a massive lay-off of Filipinos working in Philippine offshore gaming operations (POGOs).

During the #LagingHanda public briefing on Wednesday, Oct. 12, DOLE Undersecretary for Workers Welfare and Protection Cluster lawyer Benjo Santos Benavidez said they will make sure that all workers, regardless of nationality, will be taken into consideration.

In 16 Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp.-licensed (Pagcor) POGOs and 68 service providers, a total of 23,118 Filipinos are employed in POGOs, consisting of 11,776 direct hired; and 11,342 indirectly-hired, according to the Association of Service Providers and POGOs (ASPAP).

Comparatively, ASPAP members employ 17,130 foreign nationals.

"Kung ito po ay iba-ban o ire-regulate, lagi pong tinitingnan ng kagawaran yung kapakanan ng lahat ng mga manggagawa, kababayan man natin sila o dayuhan (If this {POGO} will be banned or regulated, the department always looks at the welfare of all workers, whether they are Filipino workers or foreigners," Benavidez said.

DOLE said POGO operations are commonly concentrated in the National Capital Region (NCR).

"Since ang focus ng operation ng mga POGO ay nasa NCR, ang kanilang mga manggagawa ay nandito rin sa NCR. So maigi po naming tinitignan na yung labor market information mas kagyat po natin silang mabigyan ng tulong just in case sila po ay mawawalan ng hanapbuhay or trabaho (Since the focus of POGO's operation is in NCR, their workers are also here. So we are carefully looking at the labor market information so that we can give them help as soon as possible just in case they lose their job)," said Benavidez.

In case of a massive lay-off of POGO workers, the official assured that the DOLE will provide necessary aid to affected employees.

Benavidez said the government will work to implement comprehensive social protection policies.

"Just in case magkakaroon ng loss of job or income and livelihood ay matutulungan po natin yung mga mawawalan ng trabaho (Just in case there is a loss of income and livelihood, we can help those who lose their jobs). This is where what we call active and passive labor market intervention comes into play," he added.

Benavidez explained that dismissal or lay-off of employees is a normal trend in the labor market, noting, "If an employee gets fired, someone gets a job. This is the normal trend in the labor market".

He said, "We are also releasing a Labor Turnover Survey. We are referring here to the percentage of new workers who have found work and of employees who have lost their jobs. This is what we call the turnover rate because over a while the labor market records new hires and separations. The dismissal is for various reasons".

Benavidez also asserted that under the labor code, workers who lose jobs should be provided a righteous separation pay to help with their daily needs until they get another job.

"We also have unemployment insurance. Remember, during the pandemic, many people lost their jobs, and the unemployment insurance helped a lot," he noted.

In addition, the DOLE is also preparing a retooling and upskilling program for the POGO workers through its attached agency, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).

The labor department will also help workers get new jobs, according to Benavidez.