C. Kalimantan helps jobless

C. Kalimantan helps jobless

PALANGKA RAYA, Central Kalimantan: The city administration has
allocated Rp 100 million (US$12,500) to provide 400 unskilled
workers with jobs until Jan. 28 in labor-intensive projects.

Mayor Nahson Taway told Antara Friday that workers would be
given jobs for 15, six-hour days.

They will do jobs such as dredging city canals or cleaning
markets for which they will be paid about Rp 6,000 per day.

"At least they can earn some money during the fasting month
and... for Idul Fitri (end of Ramadhan holiday)," he said.

Head of the city's manpower office, Arman, said Central
Kalimantan was the first province outside Java to initiate its
own labor-intensive programs to cope with unemployment.

The central government earlier this month allocated more than
Rp 33 billion to provide temporary jobs for the about 4 million
people who have lost their jobs due to the economic crisis. (aan)