Bali gets Rp 9.3b for labor projects

DENPASAR, Bali: The province of Bali has been allocated Rp 9.3 billion in the 1998/1999 budget to used for funding labor intensive projects in the holiday resort island.

"The money will be spread out across eight regencies and mayoralties in Bali, except for the regency of Klungkung," Governor Ida Bagus Oka was quoted as saying here yesterday.

According to him, Klungkung was not the sight of major layoffs in the past few month and thus do not have to sustain a large number of unemployed workers.

Antara quoted the governor as saying that the projects will include repairs of irrigation systems, sewage, and river dredging.

The government has launched massive labor intensive projects to help those who have been laid off due to the severe crisis inflicting the country. (mds)