Another Rp 2b channeled into labor-intensive project

JAKARTA (JP): The National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas) has added Rp 2 billion to the initial Rp 4.25 billion allocated for the city's program of labor-intensive projects, an official said yesterday.

Deputy Governor of Welfare Affairs Djailani said that the extra Rp 2 billion has been distributed among the city's five mayoralties to continue financing the program, which is expected to finish at the end of this month.

"With the additional funds we hope to break the previous target of 1,275 men working each day in each mayoralty. The men usually work five hours a day.

"This is important because there are still many projects to be carried out, ranging from the river normalization program to the regreening campaign."

He said with the additional funds, some 9,000 to 10,000 men can be employed on labor intensive projects every day in each of the five mayoralties for the duration of this month.

Rp 300 million of the additional funds has been given to Central Jakarta, Rp 300 million to East Jakarta, Rp 500 million to each of West and North Jakarta and Rp 400 million to South Jakarta.

"Each mayoralty has different numbers of unemployed laborers in its area. We therefore allocated more money to the areas which have more jobless people," he said.

Funds are disbursed from Bappenas to the mayoralties through the city's deputy governor for economic and financial affairs. Djailani, the deputy governor for welfare affairs, coordinates the program in Jakarta.

The project is not a charity project, he said, adding that it is the best way in which the government can cope with unemployment in the city.

Some of the mayoralties have also created labor intensive projects intended to absorb skilled labor.

South Jakarta Mayor Pardjoko said on Tuesday that not all of the jobless workers wanted to dig holes and clean gutters.

"Therefore we created a Sunday Market scheme which provides sites for skilled laborers to become vendors during the weekends," he said.

Last weekend Taman Puring, Lenteng Agung, Lebak Bulus bus terminal, and Pasar Rumput were among some of the sites turned into Sunday markets in South Jakarta.

"A total of 48 locations in South Jakarta were used as Sunday Market sites. However, vendors are forbidden from operating during the week. If we let them open everyday, it would cause traffic jams," he said.

The new vendors consist of skilled workers who have recently lost their jobs.

"They have to provide evidence proving that they have recently lost their jobs. Besides that, they must have some business acumen," Pardjoko added.

Some 2,078 workers have joined the Sunday Market program which started officially last weekend.

Central Jakarta Mayor Andi Subur Abdullah said his mayoralty has also started a labor intensive project for skilled workers. The mayoralty has provided Rp 300,000 in capital to 30 people to open food shops.

"This program is intended for skilled labor only. Sorry, we don't give loans or capital to unskilled labor because we can't risk losing the money. The people who join this program have to be capable of running a business," he said. (edt)