Pasay City: The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) reported on Saturday that merely 100 displaced workers from Internet Gaming Licensees (IGLs) secured employment at a recent job fair held in Pasay City. This event was aimed at assisting those affected by the closure of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs).

According to Philippines News Agency, Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma expressed concern over the low hiring numbers during his address at the Saturday News Forum in Quezon City. Despite around 8,000 individuals attending the job fair in hopes of finding new employment, only a fraction were hired on the spot. This turnout was significantly lower than the 18,000 affected workers who had shown interest in the event through pre-registration.

The job fair, named Career Con 2025, featured over 8,000 available positions offered by at least 150 employers. However, Laguesma observed that numerous displaced IGL employees were reluctant to pursue reemployment. Some workers remain hopeful for a reversal of the POGOs' closure, while others have already found alternative employment or are dissatisfied with the salary offers available.

Laguesma assured that the government remains committed to supporting these workers, acknowledging that approximately 40,000 IGL workers were directly impacted by the shutdown. The DOLE has already profiled these workers, who were previously employed in Metro Manila, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, and Central Visayas, where they earned between PHP16,000 and PHP22,000.

In addition to efforts to enhance skills for reemployment, the DOLE is offering livelihood assistance of up to PHP30,000 for affected workers interested in starting their own businesses.