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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Gatchalian urges DOLE to adopt hands-on approach in canceling job permits of foreign POGO workers

Gatchalian urges DOLE to adopt hands-on approach in canceling job permits of foreign POGO workers

Published Nov 19, 2024 07:28 am

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) should adopt a proactive approach in dealing with the cancellation of alien employment permits (AEPs) issued to foreign workers in the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO), Senator Sherwin Gatchalian said. 

 

Gatchalian made the call during the Senate’s deliberation on the DOLE’s proposed budget for 2025, taking note that the effectivity of the ban on POGOs is fast approaching. 

 

“POGO entities are morphing into something else so they could stay in the country and continue their scamming activities,” Gatchalian noted during his interpellation on the DOLE budget.

 

“We need a very proactive approach to cancel and eventually send these workers to their country of origin and we need the entire government machinery to work together to cut the legal basis for these individuals to stay in the Philippines,” he stressed. 

 

The legal basis for POGO operations in the country is set to expire by the end of the year, after which a ban will take effect. This after, President Marcos issued Executive Order (EO) 74, ordering the immediate ban of the Philippine offshore gaming, internet gaming, and other offshore gaming operations in the country.

 

The executive order, signed by Marcos last November 5, covers the POGOs, internet gaming licensees (IGLs), and other offshore gaming licensees.

 

DOLE said that about 15,819 AEPs were issued in 2024 alone and about 36,000 AEPs have already been canceled since the President announced in July the ban on POGOs by the end of the year.  

 

The agency said it is closely working with the Bureau of Immigration (BI) to ensure that the working visas of foreigners with POGO-related AEPs are voided and they are prevented from staying illegally in the country. 

 

At the same time, the senator urged DOLE to step up its employment facilitation programs for Filipino POGO workers to ensure that those displaced from the industry would be absorbed by the labor market.

 

According to DOLE about 27,590 Filipinos were employed by POGOs.  

 

“This is one of the things that we are worried about—the displacement of Filipino workers,” Gatchalian said.

 

“So, I urge the department to continue with job fairs and other programs for local POGO workers so that displaced workers would be given meaningful jobs,” Gatchalian said. 

 

 

Related Tags

POGO workers 2025 national budget Sherwin Gatchalian Department of Labor and Employment POGO ban
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