DOLE to hold another job fair for displaced POGO workers

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) is set to conduct another job fair for Filipino workers affected by the ban on Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO). 

“Mayroon kaming susunod na jobs fair sa susunod na buwan. Palalawakin nami ang information dissemination at nakikipag-ugnayan na kami sa mga employers nila na pahintulutan ang manggagawa nila na lumahok,” said DOLE Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma on Wednesday.

(We have an upcoming job fair scheduled for next month. We're improving information dissemination and we're in touch with the employers to allow their employees to participate.)

This, as Laguesma said that only 300 job seekers arrived at the DOLE job fair for POGO workers earlier this month. Of the figures, at least 33 were hired on the spot. 

DOLE, meanwhile, has yet to finalize the venue for the recruitment fair but said it will be conducted near areas of POGO firms. He also said they are tapping more employers and are coordinating with the Department of Migrant Workers for possible opportunities abroad. 

“Pwedeng ang mga na-offer na trabaho ay di nagma-match sa kanilang skills o kaya ‘yung kanilang ginagawang trabaho ay kailangan i-enhance. Mayroong direction na dagdagan ang skills through reskilling at upskilling,” said Laguesma. 

(The offered jobs may not match their skills, or maybe the work they're doing needs to be enhanced. There's a direction to advance their skills through reskilling and upskilling.)

In September, the DOLE chief said an estimated 40,000 Filipino workers will be affected by the ban on POGOs. Of the figures, about 70% or a total of 26,996 workers were profiled. 

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. banned all POGOs last July, citing such businesses had ventured into illicit activities following the series of raids that led to the discovery of torture chambers, love scams, and other crimes in several hubs.

The Bureau of Immigration had set an October 15 deadline for former foreign POGO workers to downgrade their visas or else face deportation. Over 12,000 foreign workers applied for the downgrade. 

—VAL, GMA Integrated News