DOLE to profile Pinoy workers affected by POGO ban

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) is set to conduct profiling of Filipino workers affected by the ban on Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) to help them identify job prospects.

DOLE Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma said a large number of the employees impacted by the ban are encoders who may be linked up to the Information Technology-Business Process Outsourcing (IT-BPO) management sector.

"Ang profiling na ginagawa ng DOLE as of now is intended to look at ano ang kasalukuyang trabaho ng mga manggagawa sa IGLs. Ano ang level ng kanilang sweldo? Tinitingnan din natin ang preference nila," said Laguesma in the post-SONA discussion on Wednesday.

(DOLE's profiling is intended to look at the employees' current work, their salary levels, and preferences.)

"Tinitingnan natin 'yung profiling to help us na makapaggawa ng kumpletong plan of action. Gaano ba karami 'yan? Anong pwedeng ipagkaloob, and we are also doing this in collaboration and coordination with the respective employers," he added.

(The profiling will help us identify our complete plan of action. How many are they? What can we provide them? We are also doing this in collaboration and coordination with the respective employers.)

Some 15,000 Filipino POGO workers in 34 IGLs will be impacted by the ban, according to Laguesma. He also said at least 5,000 employees will be affected in the Calabarzon region.

Laguesma added that the profiling may be completed in one to two weeks depending on the submission of workers' list of POGO and IGL companies.

"Nakatutok 'yung ating regional implementers para kunin ang listahan. Meron din kaming pakikipagpulong sa PAGCOR para ma-validate ang listahan na pinagkaloob nila sa amin," said Laguesma.

(Our regional implemeters are ready for the lists. We are also coordinating with the PAGCOR to validate the lists that will be provided to us.)

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., during his third State of the Nation Address, ordered a ban on all POGOs in the country after a series of raids against illegal POGOs revealed equipment used for torture, love scams, and other crimes.

Earlier, the DOLE said jobs and livelihood programs would be offered to Filipino workers affected by the ban on POGOs.

PAGCOR earlier said some 40,000 Filipino employees from POGO firms would be affected by the ban.

"DOLE will always be seriously concerned kahit isang trabaho lang ang nawawawala. Other than job creation, we also would like to see and emphasize job preservation," said Laguesma.

(DOLE will always be seriously concerned even if one job will be lost. Other than job creation, we also would like to see and emphasize job preservation.)

"Kung mayroong mga dislocation, may mga programa naman ang DOLE in place to help," he added.

(If there are job dislocations, DOLE has programs in place to help.) — VDV, GMA Integrated News