MANILA, Philippines – Despite efforts to reintegrate thousands of displaced workers, only 100 former employees of Internet Gaming Licensees (IGLs) secured jobs at a recent government-sponsored job fair, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said.

Speaking at a news forum in Quezon City over the weekend, Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma expressed concern over the low hiring rate, especially given that about 8,000 job seekers attended the event in Pasay City.

“Pero ang dumating, humigit kumulang 8,000 (But only about 8,000 came),” Laguesma said, as cited in a PNA report.

He also noted that a total of 18,000 affected workers had initially expressed interest in the two-day job fair, dubbed Career Con 2025.

The event featured over 8,000 vacancies from at least 150 participating employers, yet only a fraction of former Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) workers secured immediate employment.

Laguesma attributed the low reemployment rate to several factors, including workers’ hesitation about transitioning to new industries. 

Some remain hopeful for the possible lifting of the POGO ban, while others are already employed or unwilling to accept lower salary offers.

“We continue to reach out dahil batay nga po sa tala, mahigit kumulang mga 40,000 ang mga directly affected na mga IGL worker dahil doon sa pagsasara (because based on the record, there are approximately 40,000 IGL workers directly affected by the closure),” he said.

According to DOLE, these displaced workers were primarily employed in IGLs across Metro Manila, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, and Central Visayas, earning between PHP16,000 and PHP22,000.

To aid in their transition, the government is offering skills enhancement programs and livelihood assistance of up to PHP30,000 for those interested in starting small businesses. However, the tepid response from workers suggests that many remain uncertain about their future employment prospects.