Amidst calls to ban Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs), Labor Sec. Bienvenido Laguesma stressed the need for a 'smooth transition'.
Laguesma revealed on Wednesday, October 11, that the ban will affect at least 20,000 workers in legitimate POGOs.
He explained that the transition period will allow the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to prepare affected workers to search for new jobs or sources of livelihood.
"Dapat bigyan din sila ng pangangalaga at proteksyunan yung kanilang karapatan na magpatuloy ang trabaho nila," Laguesma said during DILG sa DZRH Breaktime.
"Kung iyan ay tuluyan ng masasara, magkaroon naman ng transition," he stressed.
The DOLE chief said that he understands the reason behind the calls of some lawmakers to stop the operations of POGOs in the country.
"Alam naman natin na meron moral issues na may kinalaman sa operations ng POGO kaya marami din ang panukala at nagsusulong na mawala na itong POGO sa ating bansa," Laguesma said.
He said that the Trabaho Para sa Bayan Act, or Republic Act No. 11962, could also help address the problems that will arise from the disappearance of POGOs.
RA 11962, which President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed last July, mandates the creation of a 'Trabaho Para sa Bayan' Plan to address unemployment, underemployment, reintegration of overeseas Filipino workers, and other challenges in the labor market.
