DOLE: 8K permits given to foreign workers from Jan-April 2024

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said Wednesday that it has already issued around 8,000 alien employment permits (AEP) to foreign workers employed in licensed internet gaming operators in the country for this year, according to Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma. 

Laguesma made the remark as he clarified that the DOLE only stopped issuing AEP to Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) firms following a Senate investigation into their alleged involvement in illegal activities in 2023. 

“Nilinis ng PAGCOR ang kanilang regulation. From POGO, nagkaroon ng transition sa internet gaming licenses… Naging strikto ang pagpapatupad, wala nang tatanggapin na POGO applicant,” Laguesma told reporters at the Kapihan sa Manila Bay Forum. 

(The PAGCOR streamlined their regulations. From POGO, firms transitioned into internet gaming licenses. We are strictly implementing the requirements and we are no longer accepting POGO applicants.)

“Nagbibigay pa rin po. In fact, itong nakaraang January to April, may na-issuehan na at least 8,000, pero ito ay internet gaming license permits, hindi ito POGO,” he said.

(We’re still issuing AEPs. In fact, we issued 8,000 AEPs from January to April this year.)

The DOLE-NCR earlier announced it would stop issuing AEPs to foreign workers employed in POGO hubs, adding it would only accept applications from employees for internet gaming licenses. 

“Tuloy pa rin ang pagbibigay subalit mas mahigpit ang requirements. Also, wala na pong workers sa internet gaming licenses na work from home, dapat onsite para closely ma-monitor sila,” said Laguesma. 

(We’re still issuing AEPs but with stricter requirements. Also, work-from-home setups were banned for the close monitoring of the workers.)

“Mayron kaming directive sa regional implementers, 'yung continuous monitoring and inspection ng mga areas, so that we will be able to determine na sumusunod sila sa regulation ng ating bansa,” the DOLE chief said. 

(We directed regional implementers to monitor and inspect their areas so that we will be able to determine if the firms are adhering to our country’s regulations.)

More than 300,000 AEPs were issued to foreign workers from 2019 to 2023, of which, around 70,000 were cancelled for violations. —VAL, GMA Integrated News