Group wants Pogo workers treated fairly as many are trafficked

INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — As most employees of Philippine offshore gaming operators (Pogos) appear to be victims of trafficking, a labor coalition sought “fair treatment” for all Pogos employees on Thursday.

Nagkaisa chairperson Sonny Matula defended thousands of Pogo employees, largely Chinese, who faced a “humanitarian crisis” due to possible deportations for breaking immigration regulations, among other things.

“For decades we continue to confront this same humanitarian crisis, in fact of bigger magnitude than this one, as we handle complex crises involving our distressed [overseas Filipino workers] who were denied equal protection by their host countries. We, therefore, cannot deny other [nationalities] of the same principles that we ourselves demand from other States,” the labor leader said in a statement.

“It appears that most of the Pogo workers are victims of trafficking. The government must act as a good Samaritan who helps and rescues distressed workers found in our territory and provide them an opportunity to recover rather than thrash them in our detention centers while summary proceedings for deportation are ongoing,” he added.

Nagkaisa also said that the government’s “lack of policy” for the Pogo industry benefited corrupt officials and human traffickers, especially during the previous administration.

Matula said the Philippines is a signatory to various United Nations labor and human rights conventions, which mandate non-discriminatory policies and immediate protection for workers of other nationalities.

Foreign workers’ employment in the country is regulated jointly by the Bureau of Immigration and the Department of Labor and Employment, he said.

“To us in the labor movement, the most important aspect of that protection aside from due process is by not criminalizing the victims for in many cases, migrant workers end up victims to onerous labor contracts if not outright trafficking by criminal organizations,” Matula said. — Catherine Dabu, trainee

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