3,000 lose jobs after Bekasi riots

3,000 lose jobs after Bekasi riots

BEKASI (JP): Some 3,000 people lost their jobs here in the
wake of the massive rioting on May 14 because their places of
work were wreaked or burned down, an official said over the
weekend.

They bring the number of people who have lost their jobs since
the economic crisis began last July to over 16, 400, said R.
Abdullah, secretary of the Bekasi All-Indonesia Workers Union
Federation.

He said the actual number could be much higher because not all
people losing employment had notified the union, Antara reported.

The union has formed a special team assigned to help jobless
people find employment in cooperation with the Bekasi mayor.

Among the projects the union has proposed is fish farming
along Kali Malang River and the provision of soft loans for the
jobless to start businesses. (pan)