ASEAN states try to reduce impact of crisis

ASEAN states try to reduce impact of crisis

HANOI (AP): Asian countries are not trying to undercut each other despite shrinking foreign investment, rising unemployment and increasing competition for export markets, a top Indonesian official said yesterday.

"We are focusing now on how to overcome this crisis," Minister of Manpower Theo L. Sambuaga told reporters at the close of a two-day meeting here of ASEAN labor ministers. "At the same time, we are trying to upgrade productivity and increase efficiency. "We have to stick together more than ever."

The ministers worked on strategies to cut joblessness that has skyrocketed since the Asian financial crisis began last year. They agreed to share any success stories while cooperating to improve the safety net for those who have been hit hardest.

Worries about possible social unrest are widespread, with millions of people losing their jobs as companies have shut down or laid off workers.

Theo said up to 13 million of his country's workforce of 93 million could be unemployed by the end of the year, up from nine million now.

"The private sector is sluggish and making more layoffs," he said. "The social impact (of the financial crisis) is now a reality."

The labor ministers issued a communique that included resistance to a proposal by the International Labor Organization to impose mandatory minimum work standards worldwide.