THE trend of beleaguered Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) workers barely participating in the special job fairs organized by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) continued in Laguna.
The DOLE reported that only 15 POGO workers showed up at the special POGO job fair last Friday at the Ayala Pavilion Mall in Biñan City, merely seven percent of the 219 jobseekers that showed up at the one-day job fair.
“In the Biñan job fair, a total of 219 jobseekers registered, out of which 15 were IGL (POGO) workers,” said Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma in a phone interview.
“There remains a low number of IGL (POGO) workers, who joined,” he added.
Special job fairs were also held in the cities of Parañaque, Pasay, and Makati but a few POGO workers showed up.
Laguesma previously said that one of the reasons for the low participation trend is that many POGO workers still don’t believe the ban will take full effect come December 31.
Nevertheless, the Laguna special job fair saw a higher than usual hired-on-the-spot (HOTS) rate.
Of the 15 POGO workers looking for jobs, eight were hired on the spot by participating employers.
Out of the 219 jobseekers, DOLE said there were 118 that immediately found jobs.
DOLE has been organizing special job fairs to assist displaced POGO workers find new jobs.
President Marcos Jr. issued a ban on POGOs and ordered them to wind up their operations by December 31, 2024 or earlier.
