The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) assured full compliance to the directives given by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. during his third State of the Nation Address (SONA), to find new jobs for displaced Filipino workers amid POGO ban.
"Tatalima tayo sa direktiba ng pangulo," DOLE Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma said in an exclusive interview with DZRH on Tuesday.
According to the Seretary, DOLE is closely coordinating with the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) to obtain the list of licensed POGOs in order to determine the possible number of dispalced Filipino workers.
Furthermore, Laguesma mentioned that the profiling already started which will not only include the number of individuals, but also their competencies and type of job they are employed in POGOs.
Based on the profiling results, there is a need to match workers with jobs they are most qualified in. Additional upskilling and retraining programs will be enforced if there is a deficieny in skills and qualifications.
Aside from training and upskilling, DOLE will also offer temporary emergency assistance in order to sustain the everyday needs of displaced workers.
DOLE reported that over 10,000 Filipino workers are working in POGOs who are at the verge of losing their jobs.
The agency also assured that there will be enough budget allocation for the programs they will be implementing.
"Pangunahin naming tutulungan talaga mga manggagawang Pilipino kasi ‘yun naman po ang mandato ng Department of Labor and Employment," Laguesma firmly stated.
Sec. Laguesma reiterated that the priority intervention of the agency is related to local opportunity, may it be in terms of upskilling, retraining, job facilitation, and livelihood programs.
