1,200 civil servants have no job

BANJARMASIN, South Kalimantan: At least 1,200 civil servants posted at the South Kalimantan administration have been out of work since the regional autonomy law was implemented in January.

While waiting for a new job placement under the regional administration, many have become ojek (motorcycle taxi) drivers, some have become motorcycle brokers, and others have turned to mining for gold and precious stones.

Soleh, a III B grade employee of the Tourism Ministry Provincial Office, said on Tuesday that he had become an ojek driver. "I prefer staying at home after work, and the other thing I do is escort my children to and from school."

"There is no position for me in the office, furthermore, there is no guarantee that I will be assigned to my old office," he said.

The South Kalimantan provincial spokesman Hadi Susilo said he had no idea when all the civil servants would receive job placements. He acknowledged that the "unemployed" civil servants received their monthly salaries and other allowances for nothing.

Many civil servants posted at the provinces received their salaries and were under the jurisdiction of the central government. Since regional autonomy became effective in January, all central governments' assets in the provinces were taken over by the provincial administrations. Therefore all civil servants working in the provinces are now under the auspices of the provincial government both administratively and financially.

Hadi said that many of the "unemployed" staffers had had good and lucrative positions. "They have lost everything after the provincial administration took over."

He said the total transfer would take time, and all civil servants should come to their office daily. (32/sur)