POGOs Set to Resume Operations After Lockdown

Dominique Tutay, Undersecretary of the Philippines Labour department, has stated that the Philippines’ POGO industry is expected to resume its operations at the end of April when the enhanced community quarantine in Luzon is planned to be lifted.

The opening will come despite a number of controversies plaguing the POGO industry in the months leading up to the COVID-19 outbreak.

“POGOs will continue as long they are allowed by law. We will just continue our initiative to regulate and ensure that these firms are compliant with labor and immigration laws as well as payment of taxes,” Dominique Tutay said.

Tutay said the department was currently investigating up to 2000 foreign nationals that were allegedly working in POGOs without the required foreign work visa.

Last month, the labour department also found 4000 foreign nationals in POGO firms that were using the same Tax Identification Numbers in their work visa. These concerns were set to be discussed and resolved in March, but the work halted due to the lockdown.