GCG stops layoff of more than 700 Pagcor workers

The Governance Commission for Government-Owned or Controlled Corporations (GCG) has stopped the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) from firing more than 700 workers affected by the privatization of a casino in Malate. INQUIRER FILES

MANILA, Philippines — The Governance Commission for Government-Owned or Controlled Corporations (GCG) has stopped the state gaming regulator from firing more than 700 workers affected by the privatization of a casino in Malate.

Senator Raffy Tulfo disclosed this in a statement on Thursday, a day after GCG officials led by its chairperson Marius Corpus paid him a visit at his office.

According to Tulfo, Corpus reported during the meeting that the GCG “prohibited” the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) “from firing New Coast employees while their redundancy plan has not been approved.”

The senator was referring to the Casino Filipino (CF)-New Coast, whose operations will be turned over to Hong Kong-based private license holder Marina Squares Properties, Inc. (MSPI).

Other details about the status of the casino workers were disclosed in GCG’s letter to Tulfo dated January 31, a copy of which was released to reporters by the senator’s office.

In the letter, GCG said they have not yet approved the request of Pagcor to abolish the 774 plantilla positions in  the New Coast casino.

Of these 774 positions, only 710 are filled, the GCG pointed out.

“However, the Governance Commission clarified that as of writing, the abolition of plantilla positions in CF-Now Coast has not yet been approved by the GCG. Pending approval of the GCG, Pagcor may not remove its employees,”  it said.

READ: Pagcor cuts 665 jobs from privatized casino

“The 710 affected Pagcor employees in CF -New Coast shall remain as employees of Pagcor absent the GCG’s approval of the abolition of their positions,” the Commission added.

GCG said it is currently reviewing Pagcor’s request for abolition of the plantilla positions subject to the latter’s submission of “additional supporting documents pertinent to such request.”

Pagcor, for its part, submitted to the GCG a report on the options that can be availed of by the affected casino employees.