THE Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) is set to hold another round of a special job fair for Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) workers who have been displaced or are set to be displaced by the end of the year.
In a phone interview, Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma said they will hold another job fair for POGO workers next month.
“Details are still being finalized but the target date will be the 3rd week of November,” said Laguesma.
He said the second round of the POGO job fair aims to provide workers from the controversial industry another opportunity to find new employment.
“(This is) to ensure that those who were unable to come (earlier) will have another chance to join the second one,” said Laguesma.
Earlier this month, the DOLE held simultaneous special POGO job fairs in Parañaque City and Makati City, with 108 participating employers offering 13,744 employment opportunities.
But only 340 POGO workers registered and participated, with 33 being hired-on-the-spot (HOTS).
Given the low number of participants last month, the labor chief urged POGO employers to allow their employees to find new jobs.
“The appeal is directed to the employers (for them) to allow their workers to participate, so that transition from their present job to a new one will be smooth,” said Laguesma.
President Marcos Jr. previously directed the DOLE to find employment opportunities for Filipinos who stand to lose employment due to the ban on POGOs set to take effect in December.