The Department of Labor (DOLE) stated that at a recent job fair held in Pasay City, only 100 out of thousands of unemployed workers from Internet Gaming License (IGL) holders were hired on the spot.
The Career Con 2025 job fair lasted two days and offered over 8,000 job vacancies through at least 150 participating employers.
According to the Department of Labor, although initially 18,000 unemployed IGL workers expressed interest in the event, only about 8,000 attended.
At a news forum in Quezon City on Saturday, Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma attributed the low hiring rate to various factors. Some workers are waiting for the resumption of operations by Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO), others already have jobs, and many found the wages offered insufficient.
Laguesma stated, "We will continue to extend our help, as records show that about 40,000 IGL workers are directly affected by the POGO shutdown."
According to the Department of Labor, most IGL workers previously worked in Metro Manila, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, and Central Visayas, earning monthly salaries between 16,000 to 22,000 pesos.
The labor department also offers skill enhancement programs and up to 30,000 pesos in livelihood assistance to support unemployed workers interested in starting their own businesses.
