Philippine government or full inventory of Gaming employees who have been granted AEP licenses

Philippine Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva (Joel Villanueva) called on the Labor Department to re-examine the 42000 Alien Employment Permits (AEP) issued to foreign employees of Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs) or online gaming companies during the consideration of the Labor Department's proposed 2024 budget in the full Senate.

According to data from the Ministry of Labor, the agency has issued a total of 60,541 foreign employment permits, of which 42,409 were issued to foreign employees of "legal" online gambling companies.

Sen. Loren Legarda said the Labor Department should revoke the work permits of foreign workers if they are found to be working for illegal Internet gambling companies.

In addition, the senator revealed that foreigners only need to pay 12,000 pesos per person to apply for a foreigner's employment permit. She added: "That's why online bookmakers have become a haven for all those who want to engage in illegal activities. It's terrible."

Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri then pointed out that the Ministry of Labor needs to strictly monitor foreign workers who receive foreign employment permits, as in other countries.

He then called on the Labor Department to revoke the work permits of foreigners working at the recently raided online gaming center in Pasay.

At the same time, Senator Villanueva asked whether the authorities have an oversight mechanism for foreign workers, considering the creation of an interagency task force in 2019 to track down online gambling employees.

He said: "I wonder if we have this database with their corresponding employment information so that we can track them. It is important to know that we know what they are doing. I am sure that when government agencies issue work permits, you do not know that they will be used for sex dens, torture rooms and illegal activities."