Around 22,000 Filipinos working in legal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) would lose their jobs if the industry is ordered to shut down in the country, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said on Saturday, June 22.
Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma made the remarks amid the mounting calls for the government to ban POGOs due to reports of illicit activities carried out by Chinese workers on-site.
In an interview with Super Radyo dzBB, Laguesma said that this early, the department is already implementing measures to support the affected employees in case the closure of the POGO firms proceeds.
Laguesma said around 50 legitimate POGOs are operating in the country, where more than 22,000 Filipinos are currently employed. At least 8,000 foreigners, mostly Vietnamese, are also working legally in the online gaming industry.
“Meron tayong malaking hamon o suliranin na kakaharapin dahil kung tuluyang magsasara ang mga operasyon ng mga lehitimong mga kumpanya, siyempre mapipinsala ang employment ng ating mga manggagawa (We have a major concern or challenge to face if the operations of legitimate POGO companies are closed, because it will damage the employment of some workers)," he said.
According to the DOLE, between January and April 2024, about 8,000 alien employment permits (AEP) were issued to foreign workers operating in licensed internet gaming enterprises in the country.
Laguesma mentioned that the majority of foreign applicants were Vietnamese, followed by Chinese. Additionally, there were individuals from Indonesia, Thailand, and various other nationalities who applied for authorization to work in the online gaming sector in the Philippines.
From 2019 to 2023, a total of over 300,000 AEPs were granted to foreign workers, with approximately 70,000 of them being revoked due to violations.