Gov't profiles nearly 41,000 workers to be affected in POGO ban

Metro Manila, Philippines — Nearly 41,000 workers who will be affected in the closure of all Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGO) by year-end are under profiling by the government, an official from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).

The government began the profiling in July, days after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. announced the POGO ban. 

In a televised public briefing on Wednesday, Sept. 25, Bureau of Local Employment Director Patrick Patriwirawan Jr. said initial reports from regional offices showed they have completed the profiling for over 27,000 POGO employees.

Patriwirawan said information from 19,754 workers from Metro Manila have been extrapolated, as well as 7,837 from Calabarzon, 142 from Central Luzon, and 14 from Central Visayas.

He said the reports showed Filipinos working in offshore gaming have a monthly salary range of ₱16,000 to ₱22,000, mostly doing administrative tasks and desk and encoding jobs.

If foreign nationals are included, data from Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation showed 79,735 people are working in internet gaming licensees (IGLs), Patriwirawan said.

The gaming regulator earlier said IGLs are also covered in the POGO ban. 

Patriwirawan said DOLE will offer services on job matching, skills development, and opportunities for entrepreneurship and self-employment.

He also said the DOLE will conduct a specialized job fair in October for POGO workers.

In his third State of the Nation Address, Marcos ordered the total ban on POGOs. He instructed Pagcor to "wind down and cease the operations of POGOs by the end of the year."