Central Bureau of Statistics clarifies

With reference to a news story titled Unemployment figures hide depth of Indonesia's despair" published on page 1 of The Jakarta Post on Aug. 14, 2002, we would like to let you know that the following items need correction: 1. In the first paragraph: "The number of unemployed increased by 400,000 to about 8.4 million during the first half of this year."

Actually, the information given is as follows: "Open unemployment in 2000 stood at about 5.8 million people with the open unemployment rate registered at 6.1 percent (excluding the province of Maluku). In 2001, open unemployment stood at some 8 million people with the open unemployment rate recorded at 8.1 percent on the basis of the broadening/improvement of the concept of unemployment with reference to the recommendation of the International Labor Organization (ILO).

As for the second quarter of this year in May, the figure is still highly provisional with the open unemployment rate registered at about 8.3 percent to 8.4 percent, which is yet to be published. The final figure will come out in late August or early September. 2. In the third paragraph: "The BPS survey surveyed 36,000 households."

The total amount of households surveyed in the National Annual Survey on Labor Force (Sakernas) 2001 stood at some 34,000. As for this year, Sakernas will be conducted annually and quarterly, with the total amounting to about 68,000 households for the annual Sakernas and about 18,000 households for the quarterly Sakernas per quarter. 3. Printed in the fourth paragraph: "A BPS source said the report would be published in September". In response, this refers to the plan to publish the result of Sakernas of the second quarter in May, namely, in late August or early September.

AGOES SOEBENO

Head of Public Relations

and Organization

BPS, Jakarta

Note: Thank you for your clarification.

--Editor