20,000 POGO Workers Ordered to Leave Philippines Within 60 Days
POGO WORKERS – 20,000 Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGO) workers have 60 days to leave the Philippines.
The Bureau of Immigration (BI) announced yesterday that approximately 20,000 foreign workers employed by Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGO) and Internet Gaming Licensees (IGL) have until September 24 to leave the country.
Based on a report from Philstar, this directive follows President Marcos’s order to shut down all POGO hubs due to their involvement in illegal activities, including financial scams, money laundering, prostitution, human trafficking, kidnapping, torture, and murder.
BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco issued the order, which will take effect on July 26, according to BI spokesperson Dana Sandoval. The estimate of 20,000 workers is based on the assumption that over 40 companies have hired between 300 to 500 employees each. The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. provided a list of foreigners working in POGOs and IGLs, with about 70 percent being Chinese nationals.
Pending and new visa applications for POGO and IGL workers will be denied, and violators will face deportation proceedings. Tansingco has directed the intelligence division and Fugitive Search Unit to intensify efforts to arrest violators and shut down illegal online gaming hubs. The BI also called on local government units to help identify illegal gambling activities in their areas.
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According to the report, the BI has been collaborating with agencies such as the Philippine National Police, Armed Forces of the Philippines, and the National Bureau of Investigation to combat foreign nationals involved in criminal activities. Over 2,300 workers have already been deported from scam hubs disguised as gaming companies in the Philippines.
Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma stated that displaced Filipino POGO workers might receive unemployment insurance and other assistance benefits from their employers. The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has started profiling affected workers to identify their skills and provide appropriate support. Most of the affected workers are from Metro Manila, with some POGOs operating in Laguna, Cavite, and Central Luzon.
DOLE plans to hold a job fair specifically for the affected POGO workers, who can also access upskilling, retraining, and livelihood assistance.