Philippine lawmakers call for transitional support for Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO) workers amid ban proposal
If the government decides to formally ban Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs), a transitional support system will be needed for affected workers, a lawmaker said.
Ways and Means Committee Chairman Senator Sherwin Gatchalian stressed the importance of creating a safety net for Filipino workers as they may lose their jobs if POGOs are banned.
Currently, POGOs nationwide employ approximately 25,064 Filipinos, accounting for 52.2% of the local workforce in the industry, while foreign employees number 22,915.
"We need to make sure that once we give up POGO, we have a plan in place to help those who are going to be displaced," Gatchalian said. "This means providing support such as upskilling and reskilling programs to help them find new jobs quickly."
The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) expressed its willingness to help by offering these programs as well as community emergency employment and livelihood support to the unemployed.
Earlier this week, the Department of Finance revealed that POGOs are allowed to spend about P99.52 billion annually and recommended banning the industry. While POGOs bring about 60.68 billion pesos in direct economic benefits, their total cost is about 265.74 billion pesos annually.
