44,000 lose jobs in Central Java

SEMARANG: Central Java companies totaling 276 organizations had by the beginning of this month dismissed 44,155 employees due to a halt in production blamed on the protracted economic and monetary crisis, Antara reported.

"The number is increasing," said the head of the provincial manpower office Andi Usman on Wednesday.

Last December, the figure was only 22,000.

A further 21,000 employees have been given a "vacation" on reduced salaries by the 64 companies they worked for. (swe)