DOLE promotes job fair for POGO workers

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) announced 10,000 employment opportunities for workers affected by the ban on Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGO).

The opportunities will be presented in a job fair today until Wednesday at the SM-Mall of Asia in Pasay City.

In a post, the DOLE-National Capital Region said the jobs would be offered by 55 participating employers.

The sectors that are offering job opportunities include business process outsourcing, retail and sales, food services, accommodation, transport, construction and logistics.

DOLE Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma said they are hoping that POGO workers would take advantage of the opportunity to find new jobs.

“We warmly invite our POGO workers to join and participate in the job fair… We appeal and encourage their respective companies to allow them the time off so they can take advantage of the opportunity to find suitable jobs for a smooth and just transition,” Laguesma said.

POGO workers, both Filipino and foreign, are at risk of becoming jobless when the ban on POGO operations is fully implemented by yearend.