Over 6,000 foreign POGO workers still have no work permits — DOLE

MANILA, Philippines — Over 6,000 foreign nationals working as Philippine offshore gaming operations (POGO) service providers still do not have alien employment permits (AEP) or special working permits (SWP), the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) revealed Tuesday. 

During a Senate hearing on the budget of the labor department, Bureau of Local Employment Director Nikki Tutay said that as of June 2019, 57,288 workers who are employed in the 177 POGO service providers have been inspected. 

Of this number, 8,371 foreign workers do not have work permits but 1,693 of them have since complied with the necessary permits, bringing down the number to 6,678 foreign workers. 

“Of the 8,371 who have been found to have no working permit from DOLE or the BI (Bureau of Immigration), we have summoned all the concerned employers and thereafter more than 1,000 have complied with the alien employment permit requirement and to be exact, that is 1,693,” Tutay said.

Senator Joel Villanueva, who chairs the Senate committee on labor, renewed his call for POGOs evading their tax responsibilities to be shut down. 

“That’s why I am supporting the call of DOF for BIR and the DILG to look into this matter and act immediately. I-shut down na natin itong mga POGOs na ito na nago-operate ng hindi nagbabayad ng buwis,” Villanueva said. 

“Kasi parang namamayagpag sila at parang walang pakundangan na binabalasubas ang ating batas sa ating bansa. Napaka-unacceptable po nitong ginagawa nitong mga POGOs na ito,” he added. /je