How Visa Revocation Affects POGO Workers and Their Exit from the Philippines

The Marcos administration is set to revoke the work visas of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) employees by October 15, 2024. This decision gives these workers time to leave the Philippines before their employers shut down operations. The move will affect mostly Chinese POGO employees who hold commercial 9G visas, also known as pre-arranged employment visas.

Commercial 9G visas are issued to foreigners working for licensed companies in the Philippines. These visas allow multiple entries and exits from the country and are valid only for the duration of the employment contract. They can only be issued with an Alien Employment Permit from the Philippine labor department.

According to Rappler, the decision to cancel these visas follows a series of meetings involving representatives from the justice, labor, and interior departments, as well as the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), the National Bureau of Investigation, and the Bureau of Immigration. These discussions were prompted by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s announcement in his State of the Nation Address in July, which called for the closure of all POGOs, now referred to as internet gaming licensees, by the end of the year.

Government sources have provided varying estimates of the number of foreign workers employed by POGOs. PAGCOR reported 22,184 foreign workers in licensed POGOs in 2023, with 7,534 of them being Chinese. The finance department cited a figure of 41,347 foreign workers for the same year. Meanwhile, Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) spokesperson Winston Casio mentioned that “180,000 to 200,000 Chinese nationals” were present during the peak of POGO operations during the administration of former President Rodrigo Duterte.

The government plans to issue a notice in both English and Mandarin to inform affected workers of the necessary steps for a smooth transition. This notice aims to protect workers from fraudulent schemes and provide them with guidance on how to secure their departure from the Philippines.

Workers who do not leave before their visas are canceled will be granted 60-day tourist visas. This period is intended to provide adequate time for them to conclude their affairs in the country. However, they must leave the Philippines by December 31, 2024, after which they will be considered illegal.

Authorities are preparing for the logistics of repatriating an estimated 100,000 POGO workers by year-end. Concerns have been raised about the availability of commercial flights for such a large number of people, leading to discussions about potentially using chartered flights.

In previous instances, the Chinese embassy in Manila has funded the deportation of its citizens arrested in raids on illegal POGOs.

Read related article: 100,000 Foreign POGO Workers Face October 15 Visa Downgrade Deadline