817 foreigners may lose jobs

817 foreigners may lose jobs

SAMARINDA, East Kalimantan: At least 817 foreigners working in
the province may have to be laid off following moves by companies
across the country to streamline their organizations.

"Due to the ongoing economic crisis, some companies in East
Kalimantan might reduce the number of their foreign workers,"
Soewardi, the head of the provincial manpower office, was quoted
by Antara as saying yesterday.

Soewardi said that in view of the crisis, companies in the
province should refrain from hiring foreigners because they are
paid in U.S. dollars.

Governor H.M. Ardans recently called on companies to retrench
foreign workers, especially those positions which can actually be
occupied by locals.

Companies in the oil, gas, timber and coal sectors in East
Kalimantan usually hire foreign workers. (swe)