Manpower office inundated by people seeking work<\/p>\n
TANGERANG (JP): The Tangerang office of the Ministry of
\nManpower has been swarmed by scores of people seeking jobs as the
\nnumber of dismissed workers continues to rise because of the
\nsevere impact of the prolonged economic crisis, an official said
\non Friday.<\/p>\n
At least 6,000 people have visited the manpower office in
\nsearch of job opportunities since the end of the Idul Fitri
\nholiday last month, Farid Appandi, the office's deputy head,
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
\"An average of 500 job seekers visit the office every day. The
\nnumber of new applicants is likely to continue increasing,\" Farid
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
During the economic crisis the number of workers dismissed in
\nthe city is estimated at 45,000 people from 580 companies.<\/p>\n
He said that the large number of people seeking jobs at the
\nmanpower office is overwhelming because job openings at surviving
\ncompanies are limited.<\/p>\n
Moreover, most people finding employment sign short-term
\ncontracts according to a company's limited need to fill orders.
\nAs soon as the orders are filled the contracts are terminated,
\nFarid said.<\/p>\n
He said the limited number of job opportunities was caused by
\nthe fact that most investors were still too cautious to enter the
\ncountry. Most investors are watching to see what the government
\nwill do during this time of political instability, he said.<\/p>\n
He expressed concern that many job seekers do not have
\nsufficient skills.<\/p>\n
He suggested that people improve their skills by joining
\ntraining courses held jointly by the manpower office and various
\ncompanies.<\/p>\n
\"Whenever there is an announcement that a certain company
\nneeds, say, 300 workers, the number of applicants usually far
\nexceeds the available vacancies,\" Farid said, adding that only a
\nsmall percentage of hopefuls met the job requirements.<\/p>\n
Several people seeking jobs said that they were forced to go
\nto the manpower office because there were no opportunities in
\ntheir villages.<\/p>\n
\"I left my village to join my relatives in Tangerang,\" said
\nSudarno, 19, a graduate of a senior high school in Gunung Kidul,
\nYogyakarta.<\/p>\n
Warsito, 21, of Ngawi, East Jakarta, said, \"I am trying to
\nfind whatever work will enable me to be self-reliant and help my
\nfamily.\" Warsito, a graduate of a senior technical high school,
\nhas been out of work for the last two years.<\/p>\n
He said that he took the entrance exam to join the civil
\nservice, but he did not pass because he did not have the money to
\npay a bribe.<\/p>\n
Farid suggested that the Tangerang mayoralty and regency
\ninitiate more labor intensive projects to help the unemployed.<\/p>\n
He said the administrations could use a portion of the Rp 6
\nbillion provided by the central government under the social
\nsafety net program to finance the projects.<\/p>\n
Under the program, the Tangerang mayoralty received Rp 4
\nbillion and the Tangerang regency received Rp 2 million, he said.
\n(41\/jun)<\/p>",
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