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.