Only 100 POGO workers found jobs at a recent DOLE job fair. Low turnout and salary concerns plague efforts to reintegrate displaced workers.
A recent job fair organized by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) for displaced Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) workers has been deemed a failure, with only a meager 100 out of thousands of affected individuals securing new employment. Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma expressed serious concerns over the low turnout and hiring rate.
The job fair, held in Pasay City, was intended to assist the over 40,000 POGO workers left jobless following the industry's recent shutdowns. However, the event saw a disappointingly small number of attendees, and even fewer were successfully hired.
Laguesma pointed to several factors contributing to the poor results. He noted that some displaced workers still cling to the hope of a POGO revival, while others have already found employment elsewhere, possibly in the IT-Business Process Outsourcing (IT-BPO) sector, which is actively recruiting individuals with relevant skills.
Perhaps the most significant factor, however, is the issue of salary. Laguesma acknowledged that many former POGO employees are reluctant to accept jobs offering significantly lower pay than what they were accustomed to earning. Many are reportedly seeking salaries comparable to their previous POGO earnings, making entry-level positions offered at the job fair unattractive.
"Some of the POGO workers are seeking job offers that match with what they used to get when they were still working for POGOs," Laguesma stated. He admitted that while job opportunities exist, some affected workers are hesitant to accept lower-paying positions, while others remain hopeful for the return of POGO operations.
The DOLE has profiled all affected POGO employees for job matching and is working with Public Employment Service Offices (PESO) to provide referrals and livelihood assistance. The 2025 JobStreet Career Con, an online job fair organized by DOLE featuring over 8,000 vacancies, also offered some opportunities, though its impact on the displaced POGO workforce remains unclear.
Despite these efforts, the low turnout and hiring rate at the physical job fair raise serious questions about the effectiveness of the government's strategy to reintegrate displaced POGO workers into the labor force. The significant salary gap between their previous earnings and available opportunities presents a major hurdle that needs to be addressed to successfully transition these workers to new careers. The future for many former POGO employees remains uncertain, and the DOLE faces a significant challenge in finding viable solutions to this growing unemployment crisis.
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